10 Arab States Commit to 'Share' U.S.-led Fight against IS at Jeddah Talks

Ten Arab states, including heavyweight Saudi Arabia, agreed Thursday in Jeddah to rally behind Washington in the fight against Islamic State jihadists, as it vies to build an international coalition.

In the final statement, the 10 countries and Washington declared their "shared commitment to stand united against the threat posed by all terrorism, including the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant."

Participation in the fight will include "as appropriate, joining in the many aspects of a coordinated military campaign against ISIL", said the statement.

The fight will include "stopping the flow of foreign fighters through neighboring countries, countering financing of ISIL and other violent extremists, repudiating their hateful ideology, ending impunity and bringing perpetrators to justice."

It will also include "contributing to humanitarian relief efforts, assisting with the reconstruction and rehabilitation of communities brutalized by ISIL, supporting states that face the most acute ISIL threat."

Kerry told reporters that Arab partners will play a "leading role" in the coalition.

"As I understand(...) from the meeting we had today, Arab nations play a critical role in that coalition, a leading role," he said.

A U.S. official in Jeddah said Turkey had its reasons for staying out of the coalition.

"We understand the challenging situation Turkey is in given their detained diplomats and they will make the decision on what role they can play moving forward."

IS militants hold 49 Turks hostage, including diplomats and children, abducted from the Turkish consulate in Mosul in Iraq on June 11.

"Turkey remains an important partner on counterterrorism and we will continue to consult closely as we work together to address the threat from ISIL," the official said.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal called for a "comprehensive approach" that does not focus on one country in the fight against "terrorism", citing Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Yemen as affected countries.

Kerry will visit Cairo Saturday as part of efforts to build the international coalition, an Arab League official said Thursday.

The U.S. top diplomat will meet League chief Nabil al-Arabi "to brief the secretary general on the results of the Jeddah conference", a senior League official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Egypt's state news agency MENA confirmed the meeting would take place, and a senior Egyptian official also speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed Kerry would visit, without divulging details about his program.

Before the Jeddah meeting started, Kerry met his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal and Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled al-Khalifa.

In a televised address late Wednesday, President Barack Obama pledged to expand U.S. military operations against IS, a radical Islamist group that has seized a swathe of Iraq and Syria and committed horrifying atrocities.