Saudi Arabia forms a military coalition of 34 countries to fight terrorism

RIYADH, Tuesday

Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a military coalition of 34 countries to fight terrorism in the Islamic world.

The alliance does not include Iraq, Syria or the kingdom’s Shiite regional rival Iran.

“It will be based in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations to fight terrorism, with participation from Middle Eastern, African and Asian states,” SPA state news agency said.

“The coalition will tackle the Islamic world’s problem with terrorism and be a partner in the worldwide fight against this scourge” said Saudi Defence Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a press conference in Riyadh.

Arrangements would be made for coordination with friendly peace-loving nations and international agencies for the sake of supporting efforts to combat terrorism and save international peace and security, SPA added.

ISLAMIC COOPERATION

The 34 members belong to the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

“More than 10 other Islamic countries have expressed support for the coalition, including Indonesia,” it said.

The United States has called for broader international participation in the fight against the Islamic State group of jihadists in Iraq and Syria, saying Turkey needed to do more to control its borders with Syria, and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states had been distracted by the conflict in Yemen.

(READ: World powers hold crucial talks to resolve Syria war)

“The coalition will fight any terrorist organisation that appears,” said Mohammed when asked if the alliance would concentrate on IS only.

The announcement is the latest in a more assertive Saudi foreign policy since King Salman ascended to the throne in January and named his son Mohammed as defence minister.

In March, the kingdom formed an Arab coalition of about 12 countries to support the government of Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies.

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

Rights groups have repeatedly criticised the coalition and the rebels over civilian casualties.

SYRIAN WAR

Saudi Arabia has also played a prominent role in efforts to find a political solution to the war in Syria.

Last week, the kingdom hosted unprecedented talks between opposition Syrian political and military factions, which agreed to negotiate with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime but insisted he steps down at the start of any political transition.

The meeting follows an agreement last month in Vienna between diplomats from 17 countries, including Saudi Arabia, for a political transition and an end to the Syrian war.

The Vienna plan set a January 1 target for peace talks and would see a transitional government set up in six months and elections in 18 months.

Saudi Arabia supports some rebels in Syria and last year joined a US-led coalition bombing IS in Syria.

DECREASING OPERATIONS

Other Gulf states are also in that coalition but the US Air Force Central Command chief, Lt-Gen Charles Q Brown, said last month that Gulf strikes in Syria had diminished since they began action in Yemen.

The kingdom has said military operations in Yemen were nearing an end, although fighting continues.

The United Arab Emirates said two weeks ago that it is ready to commit ground troops against jihadists in Syria and described Russian air strikes in the country as attacks on a “common enemy”.

Quoted by the official WAM news agency, the country's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said the UAE would “participate in any international effort demanding a ground intervention to fight terrorism”.

“Regional countries must bear part of the burden” of such an intervention, he said during a discussion on Syria.