Arab League ultimately agrees to combat ISIL militants

Arab League ultimately agrees to combat ISIL militants
Mon Sep 8, 2014 20:20:07

The Arab League agreed Monday to take urgent measures to combat extremist militants like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group, which seems to be financially supported by some Arab regimes including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The resolution, issued after late-night meetings of Arab foreign ministers a day earlier, doesn't explicitly back American military action against the ISIL terrorists.

U.S. President Barack Obama is allegedly seeking an international coalition to challenge the ISIL and is expected to outline his plan Wednesday to the American people.

But the resolution, issued as a separate statement from a comprehensive one dealing with Arab affairs, reflected a new sense of urgency among the 22-member states to challenge the terrorist group that has seized large swaths of territories in Iraq and Syria.

The resolution calls for immediate measures to combat the group on the political, defense, security and legal levels. It didn't elaborate.

The resolution also backed the United Nations resolution issued last month that imposed sanctions on a number of the group's leaders and called on countries to adopt measures to combat terrorism. The council resolution was adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, meaning it can be militarily enforced.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected in the region this week to discuss details of the coming U.S. policy.

According to analysts, the resolution shows Arab countries remain uncertain about the U.S. policy regarding the ISIL. Arab states also worry about the U.S. taking a selective approach to handling the issue by choosing to single out Iraq for action but not addressing the turmoil in Syria.

They have been critical of the U.S.' reluctance of entering the Syrian civil war.

Iraq is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis after ISIL terrorists’ offensive, which included militants committing beheadings and mass killings while targeting minorities in the country.

NJF/NJF

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