Islamic coalition to fight terrorism

• Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that 34 nations have agreed to form a new “Islamic military alliance” to fight terrorism with a joint operations centre in the kingdom, but the coalition does not include Shiite-majority Iran or Iraq, and it’s not clear how exactly it would function.

The announcement, published by the state- run Saudi Press Agency, said the Saudi- led alliance is being established because terrorism “should be fought by all means and collaboration should be made to eliminate it.”

However, the absence of Iran, Iraq and Syria, three countries battling the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant group, raised questions about whether the alliance was intended to present a unified front against the extremists or Tehran, Saudi Arabia’s main regional rival.

Riyadh backs rebels fighti ng to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, an Iranian ally, and has been leading an Arab coalition against Iran- supported Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen since March. It is also part of the U. S.- led coalition fighting ISIL in Syria and Iraq.

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman told a news conference the new coalition will develop mechanisms for working with other countries and international bodies to support counterterrorism efforts. He said efforts would not be limited to countering ISIL.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Paris that members could request assistance from the coalition, which would address the requests “on a caseby-case basis.”

The new counterterrorism coalition includes nations with large and established armies such as Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, as well as war-torn countries like Libya and Yemen. African nations that have suffered militant attacks, such as Mali, Chad, Somalia and Nigeria, are also members.