(MENAFN) In a high-level meeting on Saturday, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held talks in Doha with Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), focusing on enhancing military ties as tensions escalate in the region.

According to a statement issued by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, discussions centered on bolstering “the close strategic relations” between the two nations, “particularly in the areas of military and defense cooperation, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.”

The visit by Admiral Cooper came just days after an Israeli strike targeted a residential compound reportedly housing senior Hamas officials. The Tuesday attack killed five members of the group, along with a Qatari security officer, as negotiations were underway around a potential ceasefire deal brokered by the United States.

The strike occurred while Hamas officials were reportedly reviewing a new U.S.-backed proposal aimed at halting the conflict in Gaza, where Israeli military operations have resulted in over 64,800 deaths since October 2023.

Qatar, alongside the U.S. and Egypt, continues to play a central role in mediating talks to end the war.

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