US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged for calm and an ease to the blockade imposed against Qatar by the Arab nations. He said the diplomatic row was causing unintended humanitarian consequences like food shortages, the forced separation of families and children being pulled out of school. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and the Western-recognised governments of Libya and Yemen as well as the Maldives cut ties with Doha on 5 June, accusing it of supporting terror groups, including the Islamic State. The countries also denounced Qatar's perceived tolerance of Saudi Arabia's arch-rival, Iran.
