A Rafale fighter jet prepares to land at the air base in Saint-Dizier, France, in this February 13, 2015 file photo. France has been informed by Qatar that the Gulf Arab state intends to buy 24 Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets, the French president's office said in a statement on Thursday April 30, 2015. Picture taken February 13, 2015. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/Files
PARIS (Reuters) - Qatar has agreed to buy 24 Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets in a deal worth 6.3 billion euros (4.54 billion pounds), the French government said on Thursday, as the Gulf Arab state looks to boost its military firepower amid regional instability.
Tensions in the Middle East with conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Libya, as well as concerns of Iran's growing influence in the area, have fuelled a desire across Sunni Gulf Arab states to modernise their military hardware.
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