Editing History of Qatar (section)

===Arab Spring and military involvement (2010–)===

[[File:Flag of Qatar in Libya.jpg|thumb|The flag of Qatar being hoisted in [[Libya]] during the civil war.]]
Qatar played a role in the [[revolutionary wave]] of [[Demonstration (people)|demonstrations]], protests, and civil wars in the [[Arab world]] collectively known as the [[Arab Spring]]. Having shifted from its traditional diplomatic role as a mediator, Qatar moved to support several transitional states and upheavals in the Middle East and [[North Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swp-berlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/comments/2012C07_sbg.pdf|title=Qatar and the Arab Spring|author=Guido Steinberg|publisher=German Institute for International and Security Affairs|date=7 February 2012|access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref>

During the initial months of the Arab Spring, the country's most extensive media network, [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]], helped mobilize Arab support and shaped the narratives of protests and demonstrations.<ref name="carnegiee">{{cite web|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/09/24/qatar-and-arab-spring-policy-drivers-and-regional-implications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925170153/http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/09/24/qatar-and-arab-spring-policy-drivers-and-regional-implications|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2014|title=Qatar and the Arab Spring: Policy Drivers and Regional Implications|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|author=Kristian Coates Ulrichsen|date=24 September 2014|access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref> Qatar sent hundreds of ground troops to support the [[National Transitional Council]] during the 2011 [[Libyan civil war (2011)|Libyan civil war]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/26/qatar-troops-libya-rebels-support |title=Qatar admits sending hundreds of troops to support Libya rebels|work=The Guardian|date=26 October 2011|access-date=20 November 2011 |last=Black|first=Ian|location=London}}</ref> The troops were primarily military advisers,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/qatari-military-advisers-on-the-ground-helping-libyan-rebels-get-into-shape/2011/05/11/AFZsPV1G_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Portia | last=Walker | title=Qatari military advisers on the ground, helping Libyan rebels get into shape | date=13 May 2011}}</ref> and were sometimes labelled as "mercenaries" by the media.<ref>{{cite web|author=aira |url=http://www.turkishnews.com/en/content/2011/12/31/qatar-creates-anti-syria-mercenary-force-based-in-turkey/ |title=Qatar Creates Anti-Syria Mercenary Force based in Turkey |publisher=Turkishnews.com |date=2011-12-31 |access-date=2013-08-27}}</ref> Qatar also participated in the aerial campaign alongside several other coalition members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/libya-unrest-summit.95v/ |title=Qatar, several EU states up for Libya action: diplomat |work=EU Business |date=19 March 2011 |access-date=26 March 2011}}</ref>

Qatar has taken a proactive role in the [[Syrian civil war]], which began in the Spring of 2011.<ref name="carnegiee"/> In 2012, Qatar announced they would begin arming and bankrolling the opposition.<ref>{{cite news|last=DeYoung|first=Karen|date=2 March 2012|title=Saudi, Qatari plans to arm Syrian rebels risk overtaking cautious approach favored by U.S|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/saudi-qatari-plans-to-arm-syrian-rebels-risk-overtaking-cautious-approach-favored-by-us/2012/03/01/gIQArWQflR_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=23 March 2012}}</ref> It was further reported that Qatar had funded the Syrian rebellion by "as much as $3 billion" over the first two years of the civil war.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/86e3f28e-be3a-11e2-bb35-00144feab7de.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/86e3f28e-be3a-11e2-bb35-00144feab7de.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=Qatar bankrolls Syrian revolt with cash and arms |author=Roula Khalaf and Abigail Fielding Smith |newspaper=Financial Times |date=16 May 2013 |access-date=3 June 2013}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

Beginning in 2015, Qatar has participated in the [[Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war]] against the [[Houthis]] and forces loyal to former President [[Ali Abdullah Saleh]], who was deposed in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings.<ref>"[https://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/middleeast/yemen-saudi-arabia-airstrikes/ Saudi-led coalition strikes rebels in Yemen, inflaming tensions in region]". [[CNN]]. 27 March 2015.</ref>
[[File:Tamim Almajd in Souq Waqif.jpg|thumb|The ''Tamim Almajd'' illustration (pictured here at [[Souq Waqif]]) has become a symbol of Qatari resistance during the [[Qatar diplomatic crisis]].]]

====Diplomatic crises (2014–2021)====
{{See also|Qatar diplomatic crisis}}
In March 2014, in protest of Qatar's alleged involvement in financing factions and political parties in ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors to Qatar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/meast/gulf-qatar-ambassadors/ |title=Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain withdraw envoys from Qatar |publisher=CNN |date=5 March 2014 |access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> The three countries returned their ambassadors in November of that year after an agreement was reached.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-summit-ambassadors/saudi-arabia-uae-and-bahrain-end-rift-with-qatar-return-ambassadors-idUSKCN0J00Y420141116|title=Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain end rift with Qatar, return ambassadors|newspaper=Reuters|date=16 November 2014|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>

On 5 June 2017, several countries led by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt (collectively referred to as the 'Quartet') [[Qatar diplomatic crisis|severed ties]] with Qatar and enacted several punitive measures, such as closing air, land and sea borders to Qatar. Saudi Arabia also halted Qatari involvement in the ongoing war in Yemen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/gulf-rift-deepens-saudi-suspends-qatar-troops-involvement-in-yemen-war-117060500280_1.html|title=Gulf rift deepens: Saudi suspends Qatar troops' involvement in Yemen war|publisher=Business Standard|date=5 June 2017|access-date=4 December 2017|newspaper=Business Standard India}}</ref> The Quartet justified their actions by alluding to alleged Qatari ties to 'terrorist groups' in the region.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-40155829|title=Four countries cut links with Qatar over 'terrorism' support|date=5 June 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> On 5 January 2021, almost four years after the beginning of the incident, it was announced that the two parties reached an agreement in a deal brokered by [[Kuwait]] and the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi lifts Qatar blockade as breakthrough agreement eases Gulf crisis |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-lifts-blockade-qatar-breakthrough-agreement-eases-gulf-crisis-n1250102 |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=5 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105204838/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-lifts-blockade-qatar-breakthrough-agreement-eases-gulf-crisis-n1250102 |url-status=live }}</ref>