Top commanders of anti IS coalition meet in Kuwait
Date
2/22/2016 12:09:46 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Chief of Staff of the Lebanese Armed Forces Brigadier-General Jean Kahwaji (L) and Netherlands Chief of Defence General Tom Middendorp (2ndL) attend a meeting to discuss the situation in the region with the Chiefs of Staff of the countries which are part of the international US-led coalition against theIslamicState (IS) group on February 22 2016 in Kuwait City. / AFP / YASSER AL-ZAYYAT
Kuwait City: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 defence ministers of the 66-nation US-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 10000 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.
AFP