Arabs vow all needed measures against ISIS

Arab League foreign ministers agreed on Sunday to take all necessary measures to confront Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants and cooperate with all international, regional and national efforts to combat militant groups, Reuters reported.

It also endorsed in the closing statement of its meeting in Cairo a U.N. Security Council resolution passed last month calling on member states to act to stem the flow of logistical, military and financial support to extremists in Iraq and Syria.

“The Arab foreign ministers have agreed to take the necessary measures to confront terrorist groups including” ISIS, said Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi at a news conference, without explicitly supporting U.S. calls for a coalition to back its air campaign against the militants in Iraq.

Prior to the resolution, Arabi called for a comprehensive military and political confrontation with ISIS militants and other jihadists.

“What is needed is a clear decision for a comprehensive confrontation, militarily and politically,” Arabi said at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers, a day after he and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed taking action against the militant group that controls swathes of Iraq and Syria.

An Arab League diplomat told reporters that the ministers were considering adopting a resolution on combating ISIS and “coordinating with the United States to confront this terrorist organization”.

Iraq earlier welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan for an international coalition against the militants as a “strong message of support,” after repeatedly calling for aid against ISIS.

Obama outlined the plan at a NATO summit Friday for a broad coalition to defeat ISIS, which led an offensive that overran parts of Iraq in June and also holds significant territory in neighboring Syria.

Cairo-Arab league likely to agree resolution supporting U.S. efforts against ISIS -diplomatic sources

(Reuters and AFP)