Qatar, U.S. sign counterterror agreement

The United States and Qatar signed an agreement Tuesday aimed at boosting counterterrorism efforts in the region and ending a month-long standoff with four other Middle East countries. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt cut ties with Qatar over claims it supports terrorism. The countries cut off land, air, and sea access to the tiny Gulf state and important U.S. ally, creating a regional diplomatic crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled to the region this week in hopes of solving the dispute. Qatar denies it supports terror groups and has refused to meet a list of demands from the quartet, including shutting down Al-Jazeera, cutting ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, limiting relations with Iran, and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country. Qatar recognizes the Muslim Brotherhood as a legitimate political movement, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt classify it as a terrorist organization. Qatar also is the largest financial patron to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Tillerson called Qatar’s position in the regional dispute “reasonable” but acknowledged solving the problem will take time.