HYBRID WAR ON QATAR (2017-2020)

Abstract

The ongoing debate on the concept and execution of hybrid war proves its efficacy if executed with meticulous planning. In contemporary times, the virtual blockade of Qatar on June 5, 2017, as decided by the governments of three neighbouring countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, alongside Egypt —was unprecedented in the region's history. The hybrid war imposed on Qatar was only meant to choke the country and impose a will on its leadership to accept specific demands without any question.  This paper aims to investigate the causes and motives behind the imposition of a hybrid war on Qatar. To maintain originality and draw pertinent lessons through the lens of hybrid warfare, an appraisal tool, DIMPLE² (Diplomacy, Information, Moral, People, Leadership, Economy), has been deployed for a comprehensive and all-encompassing analysis of the blockade period.