Military chiefs of staff from Muslim nations participating in the Counter-Terrorism Islamic Force alliance met in the Saudi capital on Sunday.
The inaugural meeting aimed to coordinate efforts of the 34 countries involved in the Islamic coalition, after its formation was announced in December by Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The alliance will share information and train, equip and provide forces if necessary for the fight against militants such as Islamic State and al Qaeda, Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said at the time of its founding.
The coalition’s formation was welcomed by the United States, which had urged a greater regional involvement in the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) militants who control swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. IS has threatened to overthrow the monarchies of the Gulf and mounted a series of attacks on Shi’ite Muslim mosques and security forces in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The alliance includes Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Turkey, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gabon, Guinea, Palestine, Comoros, Qatar, Cote d’Ivoire, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Malaysia, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.
Orient Net
