Qatar has called its tanks into action and warned neighbours that it will open fire on any ships that come into its waters

Qatar has called its tanks into action and warned neighbours that it will open fire on any ships that come into its waters

The country’s military has been put on its highest alert level after an economic and diplomatic blockade was placed on it by other Gulf State nations

The Qatari government has written to leaders in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE warning it will respond to any naval threat

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has reportedly ordered additional tanks be readied for possible action after an ultimatum by Gulf State neighbours

It has also bought 16 Leopard tanks out of storage in capital Doha, CNN reports

The move comes after Saudi Arabia yesterday issued an ultimatum demanding that Qatar severs links with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas

A string of countries this week cut ties with Qatar over what they say is the emirate’s financing of extremist groups and its ties to Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional arch-rival

Qatar strongly denies the allegations and has expressed a willingness to engage in talks to resolve the crisis

The Arab countries closed air, sea and land links with Qatar, barred the emirate’s planes from their airspace and ordered Qatari citizens out within 14 days

The White House has said that in a conversation with Qatari leader Sheik Tamim, Trump has ’emphasized the importance of all countries in the region working together to prevent the financing of terrorist organizations and stop the promotion of extremist ideology’