(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – According to U.S. officials briefed on the investigation, U.S. investigators believe Russian hackers breached Qatar’s state news agency and planted a fake news report that contributed to a crisis among the US’ closest Gulf allies.
The development came after the FBI recently sent a team of investigators to Doha to help the Qatari government investigate the incident, Qatari and U.S. Government officials say.
Officials have said that intelligence gathered by the U.S. security agencies indicates that Russian hackers were behind the intrusion first reported by the Qatari government two weeks ago.
The alleged involvement of Russian hackers intensifies concerns by the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The U.S. officials say the Russian goal appears to be to cause rifts among the US and its allies.
Earlier, following a similar move by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and bahrain, Yemen also broke off its ties with Qatar for working with its enemies of the Iran-aligned Houthi militia, local media reports said.
The Yemen Government also extended its support to decision by a Saudi-led coalition fighting for more than two years to overthrow the Houthis from sanaa.
