US says Qatar to build air force facility in Idaho

The facility in Idaho will be used to train Qatari pilots to fly F-15 fighter jets, the US defence secretary says.

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He said the facility - where pilots from the Gulf state would be trained to fly F-15 fighter jets - would be established at the Mountain Home Airbase in the north-western US state.

"It's just another example of our partnership," Hegseth said during a meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, at the Pentagon on Friday.

Hegseth also praised Qatar for playing a "substantial role" in efforts led by President Donald Trump to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage return deal.

Qatar - along with Egypt and Turkey - has been an active mediator during months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.