Arab states come together to fight 'Islamic State' infiltration
Iraqi minister says Arab countries will form an alliance to boost security and stop Islamic State group fighters crossing borders.
2 min read
There have been a number of recent security incidents along the Iraqi-Saudi border [AFP]
Arab states are to form an alliance to improve border security and stop infiltration by Islamic State group fighters after recent attacks on the Saudi-Iraqi border, according to a high-level Iraqi minister.
The new coalition will assist Iraqi forces suffering from a shortage of border guards, and carry out airstrikes on IS strongholds in the border regions, the minister, who did not want to be named, told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad will not be included in the union.
"The alliance aims to curb the expansion of the IS group and prevent its fighters infiltrating neighbouring countries," said the minister.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, and Kuwait have welcomed the decision, the minister said.
The minister said Haider al-Abadi, the Iraqi prime minister, was due to visit Cairo in the coming days to persuade Egypt to join the alliance.
Iran has also made moves against IS. It has identified a buffer zone extending about 25 miles into Iraqi territory.
The zone begins in Shahraban in the eastern Diyala province, an ethnically and religiously mixed area, and ends in the Gulf in the south. Iran has reserved the right to launch air and land attacks on Iraqi territory if IS breaches the zone.
"The army is on standby to destroy the IS terrorist takfiri gang if they try to infiltrate Iran through its western border with Iraq," said Iran's Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Bordstan.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
The new coalition will assist Iraqi forces suffering from a shortage of border guards, and carry out airstrikes on IS strongholds in the border regions, the minister, who did not want to be named, told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad will not be included in the union.
"The alliance aims to curb the expansion of the IS group and prevent its fighters infiltrating neighbouring countries," said the minister.
 |
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, and Kuwait have reportedly welcomed the decision. |
The minister said Haider al-Abadi, the Iraqi prime minister, was due to visit Cairo in the coming days to persuade Egypt to join the alliance.
Iran has also made moves against IS. It has identified a buffer zone extending about 25 miles into Iraqi territory.
| Iraq and Saudi Arabia are also joining forces to fight IS on their shared border. Read our report here. |
The zone begins in Shahraban in the eastern Diyala province, an ethnically and religiously mixed area, and ends in the Gulf in the south. Iran has reserved the right to launch air and land attacks on Iraqi territory if IS breaches the zone.
"The army is on standby to destroy the IS terrorist takfiri gang if they try to infiltrate Iran through its western border with Iraq," said Iran's Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Bordstan.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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