Saudi Arabia Announces Coalition to Combat Terrorism

Saudi Arabia has formed a coalition that will unite 34 predominately Muslim countries in the fight against Islamic extremism.

"This announcement comes from the Islamic world's vigilance in fighting this disease so it can be a partner, as a group of countries, in the fight against this disease," Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman said reported by CNN. "Today there are a number of countries that suffer from terrorism, for example Daesh in Syria and Iraq; terrorism in Sinai, terrorism in Yemen, terrorism in Libya, terrorism in Mali, terrorism in Nigeria, terrorism in Pakistan, terrorism in Afghanistan and this requires a very strong effort to fight. Without a doubt, there will be coordination in these efforts."

The coalition will include Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, the Palestinians, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yemen.

The coalition comes after France, the United States and Britain have strengthened their military offense against targets believed to be tied to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL and the Daesh, in Syria after the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks on Paris.

The U.S. praised the new coalition.

"We look forward to learning more about what Saudi Arabia has in mind in terms of this coalition," U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters according to Reuters. "But in general it appears it is very much in line with something we've been urging for quite some time, which is greater involvement in the campaign to combat ISIL (Islamic State) by Sunni Arab countries."

Since announcing the coalition, Saudi Arabia has stated that the new group will take every request for assistance into account on a "case-by-case basis."