OSCE PA Chief Calls for Strong, United Anti-ISIL Coalition at Moscow Forum

Fully defeating the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria requires a strong and united coalition, the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation Organization Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova – "We all need to unite when it comes to IS and we should have a strong coalition against this threat," OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva said, addressing the International Parliamentary Forum in Moscow.

Kanerva told lawmakers at the event they needed to have a "clear position" on how to face challenges such as the notorious terrorist organization that has seized vast territories in Syria and Iraq.

"I don’t see any alternative for dialogue in order for us to be able to carry out our mandates as parliamentarians," he stressed.

Russia launched an aerial campaign on Wednesday, at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, targeting eight ISIL military hardware, arms and fuel depots. To that end, Moscow recently established a joint Baghdad Information Center with Iran, Iraq and Syria to coordinate efforts in combating the terrorist group.

Islamic State is already being countered by Syrian and Iraqi government forces, Kurdish forces from both countries, and a US-led coalition of more than 60 states.

Critics argue that the US-led 60-nation coalition is carrying out its combat missions illegally, without coordinating with the Syrian leadership.