MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, local media reported that Saudi Arabia had set up a 34-member Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism.
"There is no contradiction between any groups fighting terrorism. There is one target — terrorism. It is our duty as Islamic states to establish a group that will be combating terrorism because some of those guys [terrorists] actually profane the name of Islam," Ziad Majali said.
Besides Saudi Arabia, the newly set-up alliance includes Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Turkey, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Somalia, Guinea, the Palestinian National Authority, the Union of the Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.
Jordan and Saudi Arabia also take part in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS or Daesh in Arabic) terrorist group, which is banned in multiple countries including Russia. Moscow has been launching separate airstrikes against Daesh since September 30, following a request from the Syrian authorities.
