Bahrain Mirror: The Qatari government accused Bahraini forces of violating its sovereignty by continuous breaches of Qatari airspace, stressing on reserving the right to respond and taking the necessary measures to stop these violations.

Qatar informed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, about a violation of Qatari airspace on Thursday (December 27, 2018) by a Bahrain Air Force aircraft without the prior authorization of the competent Qatari authorities, in a letter sent by Alya bint Saif Al Thani, who serves as the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, reported the official state Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Requesting that the message be circulated as a document of the Security Council, Ambassador Alya bint Saif Al Thani said the Government of the State of Qatar draws the attention of the Security Council in the light of the provisions of Articles 34 and 35 of the UN Charter, and calls upon the UN to take the necessary measures to put an end to the tendentious Bahraini violations in order to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter.

The continued air violations by the Kingdom of Bahrain and its violation of Qatari sovereignty are serious breach and flagrant violations of international law, she added, warning against the continued attempts to ignite incidents that would increase tension in the region and without regard to Qatar's security and stability.

The Ambassador further expressed Qatar's strong rejection and condemnation of this illegal act as a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar, and blamed the Kingdom of Bahrain for this air breach, asserting that it shall adhere to international conventions, the UN Charter and international law.

Concluding her letter, bint Saif Al Thani confirmed that Qatar "will take the necessary measures to defend its borders, airspace and sea and its national security, in accordance with international laws and regulations."

The escalation comes amid the ongoing Gulf crisis that erupted after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt announced on June 5, 2017 severing diplomatic relations with Qatar in addition to a political and economic boycott.

The Qatari government has repeatedly accused the Emirati authorities of similar violations.

Arabic Version