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 (photo) 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.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with congressional leaders on Tuesday to outline his plan to combat ISIS, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
“I just want the American people to understand the nature of the threat and how we’re going to deal with it and to have confidence that we’ll be able to deal with it,” Obama said in an interview broadcast Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
NATO Forces have already agreed to fight ISIS.
Source: AFP; AP
