Six nations cut diplomatic ties to Qatar as Arab rift deepens

Six Arab nations cut diplomatic ties to Qatar early on June 5 morning, further deepening a rift among Gulf Arab nations over that country's support for Islamist groups and its relations with Iran.
     
Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Libya all announced they would withdraw their diplomatic staff from Qatar, a gas-rich nation that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is home to a major U.S. military base. Saudi Arabia also said Qatari troops would be pulled from the ongoing war in Yemen.
     
The countries also said they would eject Qatar's diplomats from their territories.
     
Qatar's Foreign Affairs Ministry said there was "no legitimate justification" for the countries' decision, though it vowed its citizens wouldn't be affected by the "violation of its sovereignty."
     
All the nations also said they planned to cut air and sea traffic. Saudi Arabia said it also would shut its land border with Qatar, effectively cutting off the country from the rest of the Arabian Peninsula.
     
It wasn't immediately clear how Monday's announcement would affect Qatar Airways, one of the region's major long-haul carriers that routinely flies through Saudi airspace. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
     
Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, said it would suspend flights to Qatar "until further notice." Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, announced it too would suspend Qatar flights starting Tuesday.
     
Even before Monday, Qatar had appeared unperturbed by the growing tensions. On May 27, Qatar's ruling emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, called Iranian President Hasan Rouhani to congratulate him on his re-election.
     
The call was a clear,...