Qatar becomes first Arab country to fly fighter jets over Libya

March 26, 2011 Qatar participated in a combat mission to enforce a  over Libya on Friday, one day after NATO agreed to take command. Qatar is the first Arab country to take part in the  operation against Moammar Gadhafi's regime. The said two Qatai  flew Qatar's first sortie over Libya  accompanied by a French jet.

Besides Qatar, the United Arab Emirates has agreed to send 12 warplanes to support the international no-fly alliance. No other countries from the have agreed to join so far. Qatar's combat deployment as the first by an Arab or Muslim-majority country thus is of  critical impact.

Qatar's participation has great diplomatic importance. Major General Margaret Woodward, Commander of, stated: "Having our first Arab nation join and start flying with us emphasizes that the world wants the innocent Libyan people protected from the atrocities perpetrated by pro-regime forces".

The emir of Qatar has typically preferred subtle diplomacy rather than confrontation, as Qatar is vulnerable because of its tiny size and its position on the tip of the Arabian peninsula. Qatar's decision to send planes is related to its need to  maintain  its independence from its bigger  neighbors like  Iran and Saudi Arabia, according to.

France, the United Kingdom and the United States are among thirteen states which have so far joined the no-fly mission over Libya. The was established by the UN Security Council on March 17.