Thirty-five states have signed a bold new joint statement announcing the formation of a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia to significantly upgrade the fight against terrorism. This new initiative can provide the ground forces needed on the ground to yield positive and constructive results from airstrikes being carried out by a highly criticized U.S.-led coalition against ISIS in Iraq and Syria that has failed to bear the necessary fruit. What is interesting is the fact that Iran is now terrified over this new coalition, seeing its interests in the Middle East being dangerously jeopardized.
The signatory states of this statement have decided to place their joint headquarters in Riyadh - another thorn in the side for Tehran – in order to coordinate and support their military operations in the fight against terrorism. Arab states such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Islamic states i.e. Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and a number of African countries have been named in the statement text.
The statement signed by these countries reads that adequate measures will be taken to coordinate actions with allies and international correspondents to serve the global efforts in the fight against terrorism, maintain peace and establish world security. In addition to these countries 10 other Islamic states have approved this new coalition and will be taking necessary measures in this regard.
Operational coordination by this Islamic coalition with major powers and international organizations is in the making, said Saudi Defense Minister Mohamed bin Salman in a press conference.
“The destruction of ISIS is not the only goal. In fact, this campaign will target any and all terrorist organizations that act against this coalition in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan and also Afghanistan,” he added.
This is a similar initiative the Saudis launched against the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen, and a recipe for very bad consequences in the end for Tehran. The fact that 35 countries have joined this coalition shows the Saudis were able to convince those governments with specific doubts to join this Islamic solidarity.
Saudi analysts have very correctly emphasized there is no difference between Sunni or Shiite terrorism. Through the same standards that ISIS, Jibhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda are considered terrorist groups, the Lebanese Hezbollah and other Shiite groups in Iraq will also be reviewed – and dealt with – as terrorist groups.
Following the horrific attacks in Paris and California, this is a very much needed campaign led by Arab countries that are on the ground, to take the fight head on against terrorist groups, and their sources. It is obvious that no one in the West has the appetite of once again sending combat brigades the likes of the 82nd Airborne Division into the Middle East, especially with 2016 marking election year in the United States. Many critics also rightly argue that the boots on the ground have to be provided by local Arab nations in order to prevent any sensitive cultural disputes erupting once again. It is also necessary that sending thousands of Western troops to the fight against terrorist groups such as ISIS would be playing into their hands, and a repeat of the disastrous 2003 Iraq scenario that Iran took advantage of to such an extent.
This is a major achievement for the Middle East as once again a coalition has been established in the fight against terrorism, while excluding the regimes of Iran and Syria, and the government of Iraq as it is considered heavily influenced by Tehran. Excluding Iran, which namely claimed a hegemonic role among Islamic countries yet is a strong, tangible sign of the reality of this regime isolated status among Islamic countries and the depth of resent against its warmongering and inhumane, domestic, regional and international policies. Oman will also not have any role in this alliance.
We see here an advanced method to fight terrorism and many important countries of the world have already joined as members. After being caught off guard by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and seeing its proxies pushed back in a humiliating manner, Iran understands very well that this new and larger coalition has its eye set on Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
Iran is seeing its enclaves in the Middle East being targeted and uprooted one after another. This will most definitely have its consequences inside the country as the Iranian people are understanding this regime needs no longer be feared.
