How a 'fake news' controversy in Qatar exposed real Middle East tensions

The government of Qatar claims it has been the victim of cyberattack after inflammatory statements were attributed to the Arab nation's ruler. But the "fake news" is resonating because it exposed all too real tensions roiling nominal Middle Eastern allies.

The episode began earlier this week after Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar's ruling monarch, met with a group of military cadets. The Qatar News Agency (QNA) followed with an unremarkable summary of it. But soon, an altered version of the press article went out over the wire, in which he was quoted making several divisive statements.

The altered story suggested that Tamim had discussed growing tension in the Qatar-U.S. relations under Trump, while voicing support of Hamas and Hezbollah, two regional terrorist groups.

The Qatari government also stated that a government Twitter account had been hacked as well. The hacked account had said Qatar was in the process of withdrawing its ambassadors from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

In the false QNA dispatch, the Emir was quoted as saying "There is no wisdom in harboring hostility towards Iran."