Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain cut ties to Qatar citing 'terrorism'

The Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen's two-year war also said it has expelled Qatar

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced on Monday they were severing diplomatic ties with Qatar, as they accused the Gulf state of supporting terrorism. 

The official state news agency, citing an official source, said Saudi Arabia had decided to sever diplomatic and consular relations with Qatar "proceeding from the exercise of its sovereign right guaranteed by international law and the protection of national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism".

A Saudi official cited by Saudi news agency SPA said the country decided to "sever diplomatic and consular ties with Qatar, and to close all land, sea and aviation ports". 

The "decisive" measure was due to the "gross violations committed by authorities in Qatar over the past years", the Saudi statement said, as the UAE made an announcement cutting ties. 

Egypt's foreign ministry also accused Doha of supporting "terrorism" in a statement as it announced the severing of ties. 

The statement said all Egyptian ports and airports would be closed to Qatari vessels. 

Bahrain news agency said the tiny kingdom was cutting ties with Doha over its insistence on "shaking the security and stability of Bahrain and meddling in its affairs". 

The Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen's two-year war also said it had expelled Qatar.