The UAE has denied the allegations made by Reuters.
(Newswire.net — July 23, 2017) — The Washington Post has published a new report revealing a shocking story that the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is allegedly behind the hack attack on Qatar’s state media agency (QNA).
Referring to a source from the US intelligence, the newspaper reported that the UAE government had planned the attack that lead to Arab countries severing ties with Qatar.
The UAE has denied the allegations.
Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of supporting terrorism only a few days after US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf country. Saudi Arabia and Egypt were allegedly outraged by the text-ticker on-air and on social media the QNA published showing Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani speaking favorably of Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as of relations with Israel.
Also, Qatar is being accused of supporting terrorism, Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaida and particularly ISIS.
The UAE and Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia and Egypt in issuing a 13-point ultimatum to Qatar, demanding, among other things, Doha closed Al Jazeera television. Qatar has rejected the ultimatum, insisting that the country is a victim of a cyber-attack.
Citing unnamed sources, CNN instantly accused Russian hackers for the attack, while continuing the campaign against Moscow for its alleged interference in the US presidential elections.
Dmitry Peskov, Russian president’s press secretary, has dismissed the CNN’s story, branding it as “another lie that was published.” Stressing that the sources were unnamed and information unverified, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said that this is yet “another lie that was published.”
Pointing the finger at the UAE for the hack attack, the Washington Post has become the first mainstream media that has abandoned the campaign of blaming Moscow for every major hacking attack, shifting the focus on the UAE.
According to the newspaper, the US intelligence has evidence that senior UAE officials had discussed the hack attack before it was executed. The Post’s report, however, states that it “remains unclear” though whether UAE hackers carried out the attack or the Abu Dhabi government “contracted” a third party to hack the Qatari agency.
Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE’s envoy to the US, has dismissed the Post’s claims, labelling the article as “false.” He said that the UAE “had no role whatsoever in the alleged hacking described” in the Washington Post article.
UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash has said that Abu Dhabi has never demanded from companies to choose between doing business with the UAE or Qatar, but that the UAE was targeting Qatar Airways, the biggest rival of the UAE’s carrier Fly Emirates.
The US intelligence agencies have declined to comment on the matter.