Qatar: Ambassador withdrawn from Cairo

Qatar’s relationship with Egypt is again on the rocks, after a row over Egypt’s decision to bomb sites in Libya. Qatar expressed reservations about the bombings, conducted on 16 February in response to the beheading of 21 Egyptian Copts by a group claiming allegiance to Islamic State. The Arab League said in a statement on 18 February that it had “complete understanding” of Egypt’s retaliatory action, but Doha subsequently said it was concerned Egypt had acted unilaterally. Qatar also questioned a clause in the League statement supporting the lifting of an arms embargo on Libya, arguing that doing so could strengthen “one conflict party against another before the end of dialogue and the formation of a national unity government”.