US State Department: 40-Plus Countries Ready to Help Fight ’Daesh’

Local Editor

More than 40 countries have indicated a willingness to help in the fight against so-called "Daesh" [ISIL] militants in Iraq and Syria, a US State Department spokeswoman said on Monday. 

US State Deaprtment spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the goal of the coalition is "to coordinate on the threat that [ISIL] poses," adding that the allies would have differing roles and that not all would offer Iraq direct military support.

"There are obviously a range of capabilities or capacities that different countries have," she said, adding that the coalition would seek to cut off Daesh from funding, foreign reinforcements and ideological support.

The 22-member Arab League agreed at a meeting on Sunday in Egypt's Cairo to take the "necessary measures" to confront the Daesh militants.

The White House has urged Congress to inject money into a "counterterrorism" fund to train and equip partners in other countries to fight extremists, an initiative that would be a core component of US President Barack Obama's plan to address Daesh fighters, according to Reuters.

Washington does not regard Iran as part of its coalition against Daesh. Iran also announced that it will not be part of the US-led coalition, despite the support that Tehran is already providing to Iraq in its battle against the militants.

 Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team