ISTANBUL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Qatari leaders in Doha on Tuesday to reaffirm Washington's security partnership with Qatar, one week after Israel struck the capital.

“We reaffirmed the enduring U.S.-Qatar security partnership and our shared commitment to a safer, more stable region," Rubio wrote on the US social media company, X, after meetings with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.

Rubio thanked Qatar "for its ongoing mediation efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and Hamas and to bring the hostages home."

The State Department emphasized America's "strong support for Qatar's security and sovereignty," though the US was unable to notify it of the Israeli attack last week. The strike killed five Hamas members amid discussions of a US-proposed ceasefire.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Rubio "reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship" to Qatari officials.

Prior to his arrival from Israel, Rubio said Washington and Doha are close to finalizing an enhanced defense cooperation agreement.

The visit followed Monday's emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha that condemned Israel's attack and expressed solidarity with Qatar.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry confirmed discussions covered the Israeli strike alongside strategic partnership issues.

Qatar, alongside Egypt and the US, has been mediating efforts to end Israel's war against the Gaza Strip, which has killed almost 65,000 victims since October 2023.