By Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman

BOISE, Idaho — As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth celebrated a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas at the Pentagon, he dropped another piece of news: that Idaho would be a training ground for newly minted Qatari Air Force members .

The announcement caught Idaho elected officials off-guard.

“First I heard of it was listening to the news,” House Majority Leader Jason Monks, a Meridian Republican, told the Idaho Statesman.

“I don’t believe any Idaho lawmaker was aware,” said Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon, a Burley Republican.

Though he supports military partnerships, “Idahoans deserve transparency,” Anthon added. “We need clear information on how this training program will work and how it will impact our communities.”

Gov. Brad Little’s offi

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