The United States plans to increase the number of its troops at Qatar's Al-Udeid air base from the current 2,000 to 9,000 by the end of this year, Al-Jazeera satellite television reported Monday.
The Doha-based channel aired footage of the base, which might host the headquarters of the United States Central Command and is already the Middle East's biggest depot for US military hardware.
"The Al-Udeid base is similar to bases in the United States and is considered one of the best in the world," said US army officer Timothy Scott, whose remarks were translated to Arabic.
The desert base, located some 35 kilometers south of Doha boasts a 14,000-foot runway and can house 100 aircraft, military experts say.
It is currently used by 24 KC-10 and KC-135 transport and tanker refueling planes "taking part in ongoing operations in Afghanistan," according to Al-Jazeera. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
