New batch of Turkish troops arrives in Qatar

Ankara, July 20 (IANS) A new batch of Turkish troops has arrived in Qatar for training exercises with local forces as part of an Ankara-Doha deal, according to Turkey's state-run media.

The sixth military group, including 28 artillerymen in total, arrived in Doha on Wednesday, state-run Anadolu agency reported.

This deployment is in line with the 2015 deal between Ankara and Doha on strengthening military cooperation and approved by Turkish Parliament on June 7, just two days following the diplomatic row between Qatar and several Gulf countries.

The Turkish-Qatari joint drills started in Qatar on June 19 when the first group of Turkish troops arrived at the military base. Ankara had been backing Qatar as "a longtime ally," said Anadolu reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planning to visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar on July 23-24 in order to help the settlement of diplomatic crisis with Qatar.

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