White House still seeking coalition in Mideast fight

(MENAFN- Arab News) WASHINGTON: The White House said Sunday it will find countries willing to send combat troops to fight extremists in Syria and Iraq but it's too early to identify them.

White House chief of staff Denis McDonough signaled that the State Department in coming days will name allies that will pledge ground troops to fight the Islamic State group something the United States does not plan to do. Meantime McDonough said US personnel will train and equip Iraqi forces and moderate Syrian rebels to combat the extremist group also known as ISIS and ISIL.

Facing strong public opposition to sending US troops back into the Middle East Obama said he doesn't plan to do so. But he said ground troops of some form are essential a point McDonough was asked about on several talk shows Sunday.

McDonough repeatedly declined to name any nations willing to provide ground forces and he was cautious in suggesting what might develop.

On NBC television's 'Meet the Press' McDonough said Secretary of State John Kerry 'over the coming days' will discuss whether any allied nation has pledged ground troops. 'And what he has said is that others have suggested that they're willing to do that' McDonough said. Pressed again on possible pledges of combat troops McDonough seemed slightly less hesitant. 'You will hear from Secretary Kerry that countries are saying that they're ready to do that' he said.

Congress plans votes possibly this week on Obama's request for authority to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels to fight the militants in Syria. Leaders of both parties have generally expressed support for the plan. But some lawmakers worry that US arms given to Syrian rebels might wind up being used against Americans or their allies in that violence-torn nation enduring a three-way war.

Meanwhile powerful Al-Qaeda branches in Yemen and North Africa called Tuesday for jihadis in Iraq and Syria to unite against the common threat from a US-led coalition.

An unprecedented joint statement from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb urged their 'brothers' in Iraq and Syria to 'stop killing each other and unite against the American campaign and its evil coalition that threatens us all.'

AQAP and AQIM also called on the people of 10 Arab countries that have joined the coalition against the Islamic State group to prevent their governments from acting against IS.

And it promised 'dark days' to the 'alliance of infidelity and evil.'

The joint statement released on two Twitter accounts called for differences to be set aside in the face of the growing coalition.

'Make the unity of the infidel nations against you a reason for your unity against them' it said accusing Washington of 'leading a Crusader campaign against Islam and all Muslims.'

'Stop the infighting between you and stand as one against US campaign' it added. It also urged Syrian rebels to keep up their fight against President Bashar Assad warning them to 'beware of being tricked by the US ... and thus being diverted from your path' and becoming its 'pawns.'