Arab Allies Support US in Fight Against Islamic State

Key Arab allies agreed on Thursday to support the United States in the fight against the Islamic State militants.

 Ten Arab countries pledged their support to fight the Islamic States after a meeting with US secretary of State John Kerry in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  

Ministers representing Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have offered their support in the fight against the Islamic State.

"The region recognizes the danger that has been unleashed and they are full-throatedly ready to deal with that and that is why they committed today to take the actions they have committed to," Kerry said after the meeting, reports BBC.

Kerry's visit was intended to gauge the support the US will get from its Middle East allies to fight the Islamic State.

The meeting in Jeddah ended with 10 Arab countries issuing a joint communiqué pledging to stand united against terrorism.  They promised to take steps to stop the flow of foreign fighters across borders and to prevent the funding of the militants from abroad.   They also decided to give more support to the new Iraqi government in their fight against the militants, reports the Associated Press.

However, Turkey who attended the meeting, did not sign the communiqué.

Forty nine Turkish citizens were kidnapped from the Turkish consulate in Mosul, Iraq, by the Islamic State when it attacked the city in June. Turkey's reluctance to sign the communiqué is may be due to its concern for its citizens, a senior state department official said, reports AP.

After the meeting, Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said that his country's commitment to combating terrorism was unlimited.

"Our meeting today was a good opportunity to discuss this phenomenon from all different aspects and perspectives, and to go deep in its roots and causes and reflected keenness to come up with a joint vision to combat it through military means, security means and intelligence, as well as economic and financial means, and intellectual means also," he said, reports The Washington Post.