WASHINGTON — The US ambassador to Qatar was summoned by the government in Doha on Thursday to explain what happened in a video showing two US soldiers joking in front of the flags of both nations.

US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith apologized on Twitter for the light-hearted video, which showed one male and one female soldier laughing in front of the US and Qatari flags in a building that also included a US government seal on the wall. The soldiers appear to be doing preparations for a video about an upcoming June 14 birthday ball event for the Army.

The male soldier stumbles over his words as he says they are in ‘‘an unknown, undisclosed location,’’ then gestures toward the maroon and white Qatari flag as the female soldier laughs.

‘‘This is serious,’’ the female soldier adds. ‘‘This is the birthday ball. Shake it off. Shake it off.’’

To some in Qatar, the two looked like they were disrespecting the local flag. Smith said in Arabic on Twitter that she would apologize to the Qatari government and sought to reassure critics that the soldiers were making fun of themselves.

Washington Post