Kerry to Hold Anti-’Daesh’ Talks With Arab FMs in Saudi Arabia

Local Editor

Arab foreign ministers will meet  in Saudi Arabia's city of Jeddah with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday to discuss the region's commitment to a coalition being built by Washington to combat the threat of so-called "Daesh" [ISIL].

The Arab ministers "are going to meet Kerry on Wednesday and Thursday in Jeddah as part of efforts to tackle terrorism," an Egyptian official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The talks in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, which will continue into Thursday, will also be attended by ministers from Egypt, Jordan and the six Gulf Arab states as well as Iraq, the official said. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil will also be joining the talks.

Kerry was headed to the region on Tuesday in a bid to build an enduring coalition against the militants, who have seized swathes of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

The US top diplomat pledged to build "the broadest possible coalition of partners around the globe to confront, degrade and ultimately defeat [ISIL]."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team