The agreement, outlined by Obama’s aides on the night of his speech to the American people laying out his expanded campaign against the Islamist group, appeared to reflect the depth of Saudi concern about Islamic State’s threat to the region.
Obama announced he had authorized stepped-up U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and for the first time would extend the aerial assault into Syria, where he also vowed to beef up support for moderate rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
U.S. officials said a critical component of the plan to train and equip the Syrian insurgents, who have received only modest American backing so far and have failed to coalesce into a potent fighting force, was the Saudis' willingness to allow use of their territory for the U.S. training effort.
“Now what we have is a commitment from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ... to be a full partner with us in that effort, including by hosting that training program,” a senior U.S. official told reporters in a conference call.
The Saudi decision came to light after Obama spoke by phone last week with Saudi King Abdullah.
“Both leaders agreed that a stronger Syrian opposition is essential to confronting extremists like (Islamic State) as well as the Assad regime, which has lost all legitimacy,” the White House said.
The Obama Administration wants the Syrian rebels to play a role in the fight against the stronger Islamic State forces inside Syria. U.S. officials declined to specify where on Saudi territory the rebels would be trained.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with senior officials from Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which comprises Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
Ten Arab countries agreed on Sunday to take all necessary measures to confront Islamic State.
Meanwhile, France has joined Britain in carrying out reconnaissance flights on Monday in support of the U.S. air campaign against ISIS militants in Iraq.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he was preparing to contribute up to 10 military aircraft and 600 personnel to be deployed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Germany banned all activity on behalf of ISIS, including the distribution of propaganda and the display of its symbols, and is supplying Kurdish forces fighting the extremists in Iraq with assault rifles, anti-tank weapons and armored vehicles. But Germany has ruled out airstrikes and ground troops.
The CIA estimates the militant group has access to between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
Source: Reuters; AP
