Arab League pledges to tackle Islamic State

Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo for an Arab League meeting have vowed to take all necessary measures to combat the Islamic State group while agreeing to cooperate with all international and regional efforts.

“What is needed is a clear decision for a comprehensive confrontation, militarily and politically,” Arab League chief Nabil el-Araby said on Sunday.

The Arab League also endorsed a UN Security Council resolution passed last month calling on member states to “act to suppress the flow of foreign fighters, financing and other support to Islamist extremist groups in Iraq and Syria”.

El-Araby criticised infighting between Arab states which he said had led to inaction by the 22-member League.

“While some Arab states object to allowing the Arab League to intervene in their internal crises, the floodgates are opened to foreign intervention, including militarily,” he said.

El-Araby also called for the activation of an Arab defence treaty to allow for military action when needed, as he suggested that military action could take place under the umbrella of an Arab League joint defence pact.

Several foreign ministers spoke of the gravity of the challenge posed by the Islamic State in Iraq as well as the violence
that has engulfed Libya and other regions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also stated his concern on the matter by saying the local and regional terrorism threat the Arab and Islamic nation is facing should be on the table.

President Barack Obama called on Arab states last week to consider military action and support Sunni Muslim moderates in Iraq and Syria as methods in tackling the IS.

US fighter jets continued their air strikes on Islamic State fighters in western Iraq early on Sunday widening their campaign against the armed group.