Bahrain Mirror: Qatar said it informed the UN Security Council and secretary-general of violation of its airspace by four Bahraini fighter jets, Qatar News Agency announced on Thursday, December 24.

According to the official Qatar News Agency, a letter to UN officials was sent by Ambassador Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, the Qatari permanent representative. ​​​​​​​

It was sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The conveyed message included an official notification from Doha that four Bahraini military aircraft had penetrated Qatar's airspace over territorial waters on Dec. 9.

Bahrain called Wednesday for an end to regional disputes, the latest statement suggesting a rift between Qatar and four countries could ease ahead of a Gulf summit next month.

Manama's Supreme Defence Council, led by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, convened and declared a need "to end regional conflicts and disputes by peaceful means", according to the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA). 

The Council stressed the importance of ending regional conflicts and disputes by peaceful means and in accordance with international covenants and the principles of good neighbourliness, to achieve peace, stability and prosperity for all peoples of the region.

Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, abruptly severed ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing the country of backing "extremists" among other allegations that Doha strongly denies.

Last month, Doha accused two Bahraini coastguard boats of violating its territorial waters.

But Bahrain denied this, saying that the Qatari coast guard had exposed the two Bahraini boats in the kingdom's waters, before announcing last Sunday that Doha was holding 47 Bahraini fishing boats.

On Monday, the government in Manama affirmed the importance of "direct bilateral negotiations with the State of Qatar to reach an agreement on the continuity of allowing fishermen in the two countries to practice their activities in accordance with what has been known for decades."

For their part, Bahraini fishermen call for finding a solution that gives them freedom to fish without being harassed.

Arabic Version