Kerry in Saudi Arabia

Senator Kerry is touring the Middle East to establish a coalition of more than 40 countries against the Sunni militant organization "Islamic State" (IS). The top US diplomat made an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Wednesday to drum up financial, political, and military support for taking on IS, whose fighters have taken over vast swathes of Syria and Iraq.

On Thursday, Kerry is set to hold talks with foreign ministers from 10 Arab nations and Turkey in the Saudi city of Jeddah, hours after US President Barack Obama outlined his new strategy to confront the Islamists in a Wednesday night television address.

The AFP news agency quoted a Turkish government official as saying that Ankara would not permit a possible US-led coalition to attack IS in Iraq and Syria from its air bases.

"Turkey will not be involved in any armed operation but will entirely concentrate on humanitarian operations," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Washington has launched more than 150 airstrikes against IS militants in northern Iraq since August.

Pivotal Arab support

US officials say that wider over flight permission from Arab states would enhance the capacity of US aircraft to attack IS targets in Iraq and Syria, and if deemed necessary impose a no-fly zone. Riyadh's support, they say, is pivotal because of its regional stature and influence on other Arab countries.

Saudi Arabia has agreed to train moderate Syrian rebels who are part of Obama's new strategy to combat IS jihadists.

The Arab League - a regional organization of Arab countries - said in a resolution on Monday that it would take "necessary measures" to combat IS on the political, defense, security and legal levels. The League's conference in Cairo stopped short of endorsing any direct US involvement in the conflict. Nabil Elaraby, the head of the Arab League, said, however, that action against the militant outfit would include "international cooperation on all fronts."

Obama: 'Degrade and destroy IS'

On Wednesday, President Obama said he was prepared to expand the military campaign against IS into neighboring Syria, the militant group's main base of operations.

"I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria as well as Iraq," the president said, using an alternative name for the IS, which is also referred to as ISIS. Obama, however, ruled out cooperating with Damascus, saying that the Assad regime had lost its legitimacy.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground," Obama continued.

shs/sb (AFP, Reuters)