Saudi Arabia creates Islamic bloc to fight terror groups

Saudi Arabia has formed a coalition of 34 mainly Muslim countries – including powers such as Egypt and Turkey – to coordinate a fight against “terrorist organisations”.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have, however, assumed the main roles in that coalition.

The decision to form the coalition is part of a broader effort by Saudi Arabia to establish itself as the leader of the Sunni Muslim world’s battle against terrorism.

But Saudi Arabia’s regional rival, Shiite Iran, is not part of the coalition, with both supporting opposite sides of in the wars raging in Syria and Yemen.

Jubeir said the new coalition would have a joint operations centre based in Riyadh with a twin track of military, security and intelligence on the one hand and ideology on the other.

The grouping of Muslim nations will confront any terrorist threat, including Islamic State, and coordinate with “globally important countries and worldwide organizations”, he said.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir attends a news conference at a hotel in Paris, France, December 15, 2015, where he said their Islamic anti-terror alliance will share information and train, equip and provide forces if necessary for the fight against Islamic State.

More than ten other Islamic countries have expressed their support for the alliance and will take the necessary measures in this regard, including Indonesia, according to SPA.

Bin Salman said the states would work together to target “any terrorist organisation, not just ISIL” in countries including Iraq, Syria.

“Pakistan has consistently supported all regional and global efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism and, to this end, has extended its full support and cooperation to worldwide community”, reads the statement. But if successful, he said, it could help fill a much-needed gap in the fight against IS. Their efforts would not be limited to countering the Islamic State group, he added. As for the German ambassador to Saudi Arabia Boris Ruge, he considers the formation of the new coalition a step to serve global peace and security.

The Saudi military involvement in Yemen began almost nine months ago, framed domestically as a war to head off Iran. “Lebanon can not but be part of the alliance that is combating terrorism”, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give official statements.

Sounding a notably more strident tone, Mr Obama voiced renewed determination to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), vowing to win back territory in the Middle East and kill the group’s leaders.

The formation of the Islamic coalition could signal a change in a region that has long left Syria and Iraq to their own devices.