Saudi Arabia announces 32 nation anti-terror alliance

Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a new coalition of 34 predominantly Muslim nations to fight the “disease” of Islamic terrorism – an development likely provide a key boost to the Obama administration’s ongoing push for Arab powers to play a central role in the fight against the Islamic State.

In an earlier press statement issued by the Saudi Press Agency, officials said the group would be led by Saudi Arabia, which would host a “joint operations centre to coordinate” efforts.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) said in a sort of explanatory statement that the country has consistently supported all regional and worldwide efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism and has extended its full support and cooperation to global community.

The SPA state news agency said 10 other “Islamic countries” had expressed support, including Indonesia. “Both countries condemn terrorism and cooperate in the efforts to eliminate this menace”, it said.

Iran, a mainly Shia Islam country, Iraq and Syria were absent from the list.

Ursula von der Leyen told German broadcaster ZDF the alliance would be of help if it joined other countries fighting Islamic State (IS), adding that IS had gained strength from disagreement among various opposition parties on how to fight or who to protect.

Saudi Arabia’s archrival for influence in the Arab world – was absent from the states named as participants, as proxy conflicts between the two regional powers rage from Syria to Yemen.

The new coalition will special forces to Syria to fight ISIS within weeks, according to reports.

Saudi Arabia says a coalition of 34 Islamic nations has been formed to fight “any terrorist group”.

“Since the summer, ISIL has not had a single successful major offensive operation on the ground in either Syria or Iraq, ” Obama said.

Egypt is taking part in a Saudi-led coalition that has been battling Iran-backed rebels in Yemen since March.

Most of the countries in the coalition are now involved in military operations against ISIL or have been targeted by the group. “Undoubtedly through this alliance, there will be coordination to fight it”, he said.

The United States welcomed the announcement of the anti-terrorism alliance.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab neighbours have been locked in nine months of warfare with Iran-allied rebels in neighboring Yemen, launching hundreds of air strikes there.

He also asserted that the Islamic military alliance will coordinate with globally important countries and worldwide organizations in this action, pointing out that the alliance will fight terrorism at the military, intellectual and media levels, in addition to the remarkable security effort now existing.

Benin, while it does not have a Muslim majority, is a member of the new coalition.