Turkey and its main regional ally Qatar today launched military exercises in the emirate that will involve some 250 Turkish troops and 30 armoured vehicles. <br/><br/>The exercises come as Ankara presses on with its unequivocal backing of Doha in the crisis triggered by the political and economic isolation of Qatar by Gulf and other Arab states led by Saudi Arabia. <br/><br/>Turkish state media said, that the Turkish frigate TCG Gokova had docked in Doha earlier this week carrying 214 soldiers who would take part in the exercises. The exercises got underway today and would intially involve ground forces with naval forces later on <br/>'<br/>In June this year, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with Qatar accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with their Shiite rival Iran. Doha denies the claims and has been strongly backed by Ankara throughout the standoff.<br/>