US Defense Secretary holds talks with Qatari leaders

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has made an unannounced visit to Qatar, holding talks with the country’s emir and defense minister at the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, Voice of America reports.

Mattis arrived at Al Udeid Air Base Thursday, days after Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani renewed a call for “unconditional dialogue” to end a crisis involving his country and four Arab states, during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly.