Top Commanders of Anti-IS Coalition Meet in Kuwait
Top military commanders from 30 nations fighting the Islamic State group gathered Monday in Kuwait to discuss ways to defeat the jihadists who occupy large areas in Syria and Iraq.
Chief of staff of host country Kuwait, General Mohammad al-Khader, urged increased efforts to defeat extremists worldwide.
"As military leaders, it is our responsibility to double efforts and urgently work out suitable plans to eliminate all terrorist groups threatening many countries in the world," Khader said.
The meeting was held under tight security measures and made off-limit to reporters with only photographers allowed to take pictures.
It comes less than two weeks after defense ministers of the 66-nation U.S.-led coalition battling IS pledged in Brussels to accelerate their campaign against the jihadist group.
Countries attending the Kuwait meeting include the United States, Britain, France, as well as Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The coalition has launched more than 10,000 air strikes against IS but the group still retains control of large parts of Iraq and Syria and has expanded its presence in Libya.
During the Brussels meeting, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates promised to renew their air operations in Syria after a long lull because of their war against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen.
Officials say the campaign is making the most progress in Iraq, where local security forces have retaken the city of Ramadi and clawed back some 40 percent of territory previously held by IS.
22 February 2016, 16:23
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Twenty seven of the thirty nations participating have recently had their credit cards cancelled for non-payment. Riyadh has promised a full and timely investigation should one be called for. In the event it becomes necessary for Riyadh to extend financial supports to the anti-IS coalition, consideration will be given to the fuller deployment of the top-secret weapons system, Shaheed, which is currently undergoing field testing in secret locations in Iraq and Syria. "We have the technnology if you have the manpower," said KSA's senior military planner, Second Lieutenant Ralph Calderson, RAF, ret.
