Saudi Arabia can shoot down trespassing Qatari planes: State TV
Saudi Arabia’s state television says the kingdom could shoot down the Qatari airliners potentially violating its airspace.
Al Arabiya recently broadcast a short animation showing a missile strike by a Saudi warplane against a Qatari airliner.
Citing “international law,” a voiceover accompanying the production said, “A state that bans flights from entering its airspace has the right to deal with the violating plane in any way it wishes.”
“The options in this case either take the form of deploying a fighter jet that forces the plane to land whereby the flight crew are then tried on several charges,” it said. “International law also allows states to shoot down any flight that violates a state’s airspace, classing it as a legitimate target, especially over military areas.”
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates cut their diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism. Doha rejects the claim.
The boycotting countries also closed their airspace to flag carrier Qatar Airways. The airline has stopped using the airspace of those countries ever since, rerouting flights and using alternative paths, including through Iranian skies.
The Saudi-led embargo has had an economic impact on Qatar.
Trying to make up for lost revenue, Doha has said it would allow the citizens of 80 countries to travel to the country visa free.
Read more:
Interior ministry official Mohamed Rashed al-Mazroui said the 80 countries had been selected on the basis of security and economic considerations, including for the buying power of their nationals.
Doha says it would press the sanctioning countries to compensate for the economic damages arising from the embargo, but has also said it has enough financial resources at its disposal to weather the bans.
Saudi delegation meets HTS leader at presidential palace in Damascus
Saudi man arrested after deadly car attack on German Christmas market
Riyadh ‘urgently’ seeks to boost ties with Tehran: Report
VIDEO | 444 days of ethnic cleansing
VIDEO | Bethlehem's Christmas dimmed by war, restrictions
Israel admits assassinating Hamas leader, vows to inflict same fate on Yemeni fighters, people
VIDEO | Yemeni forces repel US-British attack, down F-18 Jet
Iran’s capabilities vast; enemy’s ‘maximum pressure’ policies all failed miserably: Senior official
Iran’s economy grew 2.7% y/y in Sep quarter: CBI
VIDEO | Freelancers in Gaza strive to stay online amid genocide
Mikati demands Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
