Al Attiyah has served as Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces since the 1990s.
During the Libyan Civil War, which began in 2011, Al Attiyah revealed that Qatar had provided military and financial support to the Libyan rebels.
He stated that "the numbers of Qataris on the ground were hundreds in every region".

In June 2013, shortly after the ascension of Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the throne, Al Attiyah was promoted to the State Minister for Defense.
He signed a $11 billion arms deal with US Defense Minister Chuck Hagel in July 2014.
As of 2015, he was president of the multi-sports club El Jaish SC.
Al Attiyah has served as Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces since the 1990s. During the Libyan Civil War, which began in 2011, Al Attiyah revealed that Qatar had provided military and financial support to the Libyan rebels. He stated that "the numbers of Qataris on the ground were hundreds in every region".
In June 2013, shortly after the ascension of Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the throne, Al Attiyah was promoted to the State Minister for Defense. He signed a $11 billion arms deal with US Defense Minister Chuck Hagel in July 2014. As of 2015, he was president of the multi-sports club El Jaish SC.
Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah