10 Arab states agree to join U.S. coalition to fight IS

Ten Arab states, including heavyweight Saudi Arabia, agreed Thursday in Jeddah to rally behind Washington in the fight against Islamic State jihadists, as the U.S. seeks to build an international coalition. “The participating states agreed to do their share in the comprehensive fight” against the militants (also known as ISIL or ISIS), said a statement at the conclusion of a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Arab counterparts. The other Arab states joining the coalition are Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Although Turkey was represented in the meeting, it was not mentioned in the final communique and a Turkish government official said Ankara has refused to take part in combat against the IS militants. Kerry is to fly on Friday to Ankara for urgent talks with officials of Washington’s key ally.

As I understand […] from the meeting we had today, Arab nations play a critical role in that coalition, a leading role.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

The U.S. has pressed Arab nations to join a coalition aimed at supporting its campaign against the jihadists. In the final statement, the 10 countries and Washington declared their “shared commitment to stand united against the threat posed by all terrorism, including the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant”. Participation in the fight will include “as appropriate, joining in the many aspects of a coordinated military campaign against ISIL”, said the statement. The fight will include “stopping the flow of foreign fighters through neighbouring countries, countering financing of ISIL and other violent extremists, repudiating their hateful ideology, ending impunity and bringing perpetrators to justice”. It will also include “contributing to humanitarian relief efforts, assisting with the reconstruction and rehabilitation of communities brutalised by ISIL, supporting states that face the most acute ISIL threat”.

Middle East