Saudi Announces Islamic Coalition to Fight Terror

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense confirmed that the announcement of the formation of an Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism emanates from the Islamic world’s keenness to fight this disease and be a partner of the world, as a group of countries, in the fight against this disease.

He said in a press conference at King Salman Air Base in Riyadh yesterday evening following the announcement of the joint statement on the formation of an Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism based in Riyadh, ‘The alliance includes a group of Islamic states that make up the majority of the Islamic world, and this emanates from the keenness of the Muslim world to fight this disease which affected the Islamic world first, before the international community as a whole. ‘

The Deputy Crown Prince pointed out that an operations room of the alliance will be established in Riyadh to coordinate and support efforts to fight terrorism in all countries and parts of the Islamic world, noting that each country will contribute according to its capabilities.

He added, ‘Today, every Islamic country is fighting terrorism individually. The coordination of efforts is very important; and through this room, means and efforts will be developed for fighting terrorism all over the Islamic world.

On the support of more than ten Islamic countries to this alliance, he said: ‘These countries are not outside of the alliance, these countries have measures to be taken before joining the alliance. In light of the keenness to accomplish this alliance as soon as possible, the announcement of the 34 countries was made and, God willing, the rest of the countries will join this Islamic alliance.’

The Deputy Crown Prince added: ‘We have a number of countries suffering from terrorism, including Syria, Iraq, Sinai, Yemen, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and this requires very strong efforts to fight it. Undoubtedly through this alliance, there will be a coordination to fight it through these efforts.’

He went on saying, ‘We will confine terrorist organizations whatever might be their classification. Of course, in connection with operations in Syria and Iraq, we cannot carry out these operations but only through coordination with the legitimacy in both of them and the international community.’

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

Asked whether the new alliance will confront ISIS terrorist organization only, the Deputy Crown Prince said: ‘No, but against any terrorist organization emerges before us. We will work and take

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, speaking at a news conference in Paris, said that “in terms of the operation of this coalition . . . nothing is off the table. It depends on the requests that come, depends on the need, and it depends on the willingness of countries to provide the support that is necessary.”

In addition to a military component, he said it would include “stopping the flow of funds” to terrorists and “confronting the ideology of extremism that promotes killing of the innocent, which is contrary to every religion, particularly the Islamic faith.”

 

 

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