Posted on 10/10/2025 11:34:25 AM PDT by Kazan
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday the U.S. will host a new Qatari air force facility in Idaho, where pilots will train to fly F-15s.
Hegseth said the Trump administration has signed the letter greenlighting the building of a Qatar Emiri air force contingent at the Mountain Home Air Force Base located in southwestern Idaho.
Qatar Emiri air force is the air arm of Qatar’s armed forces.
“Location will be host to a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality, interoperability,” Hegeseth said Friday. “It’s just another example of our partnership.”
Mountain Home Air Force Base, located in Elmore County, already hosts Singapore’s air force F-15SG fighter jets.
Hegeseth announced the agreement sitting alongside Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Qatari defense minister who was at the Pentagon on Friday.
The Defense chief said the agreement showcases the strength of the partnership between Qatar and the U.S. and added that Doha’s officials played a key role in securing the Gaza peace deal.
“You have been a core part of what has unfolded in Gaza, a historic moment. We’re grateful for the strong partnership that we have, the way you support our troops at Al Udeid, Your Excellency, the line of communication we’ve had together,” Hegseth said, referencing the U.S. military base in Qatar.
Earlier this month, Trump penned an executive order to increase U.S. protection of Qatar following an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha that killed six people, including a Qatari security officer.
“In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability,” the Oct. 1 order says.
I’m okay with Idaho.
It keeps the potential Kamikaze trainees far from high buildings and big cities and important infrastructure.
I have very mixed feelings about this myself...but causing permanent, long term destruction to the nation because of one decision is not on the cards as a legitimate response. We are actually starting to make some gains culturally in reversing the rot caused by the Left infiltrating government and institutions - I have no desire to just throw in the towel and let the Left regain power and just pick back up where they left off.
Just quit it... We owe Qatar exactly NOTHING!
We’ve been training Middle Easterners in this country for decades. I used to issue flightline badges at Nellis AFB in 1970 to Saudis, Jordanian etc. It’s actually better that they have their own self funded facilities than the American taxpayer paying for their training. Plus their training on F-15’s not F-35’s.
Look up the Iwakuni airbase. Marines and Japanese SDF on the same base.
This is LESS than that as they are coming here for training, not a permanent and isolated military base.
With the 80 mph limit on I84, Mountain Home is a 30 minute drive from Boise.
But why bother? Mountain Home has plenty of culture to offer.
😆
Also it’s not in the mountains, so the name is misleading.
It should be named “Desert Home.”
The United States has been training Arab pilots and pilots from all over the world for decades. I think the Germans have their own base here.
I spent two high school years there. Ah, Mountain Home, the bright lights, the big city. We used to put Christmas lights on sagebrush...
How many billions will Hamas get for their fake cease fire with Israel?
Now he wants to sell (give?) F-15s to Qatar?
Qatar will share EVERY top secret device in the F-15 with the Iran Air Force, so Iran can improve their air defense against Israel, which flies 71 F-15s.
Being Zionist puppets ain’t much better.
Why can’t our country just tend to and mind our own business?
“””””””We’ve been training Middle Easterners in this country for decades.””””””
Miramar in San Diego was training them during the late 1970s
This has to be just about the worst idea of the century
Some of the hottest women I ever saw in Texas were at SAFB when a contingent of Czech women were there to fly cargo planes. Wowza.
What a horrible place to live though.
What a horrible place to live though.
Are you saying Czechia is a horrible place to live?
Wichita Falls, home of the Hotter Than Hell 100 bike race!
Qatar: #1 funder of mosques and the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S. (and U.S. universities):
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/04/02/qatars-footprint-in-the-american-higher-education-system/
https://www.ft.com/content/d0a16f75-8b05-4ff9-b5f1-d473d7f5a704
https://isgap.org/follow-the-money/
But why bother? Mountain Home has plenty of culture to offer.
If the cable TV or internet is working!
Also it’s not in the mountains, so the name is misleading. It should be named “Desert Home.”
True, it's on the lava plateau above the Snake River with the mountain hills about a 20 minute drive to the north. Not a lot of rain but that cold north wind is brutal!!
Having said all that, I did enjoy the change in scenery from SE New Mexico.
JUST DO NOT LET THEM OFF THE BASE.
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