Pentagon agrees to host Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots at Idaho air base

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Pentagon approves new Qatari air base in Idaho for F-15 pilot training

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the project reflects the strength of the U.S.-Qatari alliance following Qatar's "substantial role" in the Gaza peace deal.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the Pentagon has agreed to host a new Qatari Emiri Air Force facility in Idaho, saying that the nation has played a "core part" in securing the Gaza peace deal.

Hegseth made the announcement during an enhanced honor cordon arrival ceremony at the Pentagon for Qatar’s Minister of Defense Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

"Today, we’re announcing a letter of acceptance in building a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho," Hegseth said.

The new base will host Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots, enabling joint training operations with U.S. forces. The location will "enhance our combined training, increase lethality, interoperability," Hegseth said.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, meets with Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10, 2025.  (REUTERS/Ken Cedeno)

He added that the project reflects the depth of the U.S.-Qatari defense partnership and thanked Qatar for its involvement in recent diplomatic efforts.

"You have been a core part of what has unfolded in Gaza, a historic moment," Hegseth said. "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." 

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An F-15E Strike Eagle, assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, takes off on April 20, 2017. (Hum Images/Universal Images Group)

Al Thani echoed the same message, calling the Gaza peace deal a "historic achievement" that demonstrates "what can be accomplished when our nations work together."

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a cease-fire, crediting Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their roles in mediating the deal.

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An F-35A Lightning II team parks an aircraft at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, on Feb. 8, 2016. (Hum Images/Universal Images Group)

By Friday, Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of the peace plan, which calls for the release of all hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from most of Gaza.

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"No one other than President Trump could have achieved the peace — what we believe will be a lasting peace — in Gaza," Hegseth said Friday.