Morocco to Join Saudi-led Coalition Against Terrorism

A coalition of 34 Islamic nations has been formed to fight any terrorist group a joint statement published on Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

The coalition will tackle "the Islamic world's problem with terrorism and will be a partner in the worldwide fight against this scourge" said Saudi Defence Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a press conference in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday what it called a new Islamic military alliance made up of 34 countries to fight terrorism.

It is also achieving integration closing ranks and uniting efforts to combat terrorism which violates the sanctity of people's lives threatens regional and worldwide security and peace poses a threat to the vital interests of the nation and undermines coexistence in it the statement affirmed.

It said Turkey needed to do more to control its borders with Syria, and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states had been distracted by the conflict in Yemen.

"But in general it appears it is very much in line with something we've been urging for quite some time, which is greater involvement in the campaign to combat Islamic State by Sunni Arab countries", Carter added.

The formation of the coalition coincides with the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz granting the President of Yemen Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi's request for a 7 day ceasefire, starting from today, which also coincides with the beginning of Yemeni talks to end the crisis.

"The future plans of the "Muslim coalition against terrorism" are unknown, as the countries, which it includes, haven't decided whether they will take a defensive position or participate in military operations against terrorist organizations", said the expert.

"There will be worldwide coordination with major powers and global organizations...in terms of operations in Syria and Iraq".

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have, however, assumed the main roles in that coalition.

Smaller member-states included in the coalition are the archipelago of the Maldives and the Gulf Arab island-nation of Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Neither Iraq nor Syria - whose governments are close to Shia Muslim Iran - are members.

Benin, while it does not have a majority Muslim population, is another member of this new counterterrorism coalition.

SPA said the coalition comes within the context of an anti-terrorism agreement signed by member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).