The Fight Against IS

Kerry seeks Cairo's support for 'war' on jihadists
Afp, Cairo

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday Egypt was on the frontline against "terrorism" after he met its leadership to garner support to fight Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria. Egypt's formidable army is unlikely to take part in a military coalition against IS, but has closely cooperated with the United States on counter-terrorism.

US will not coordinate air strikes with Syria: Kerry
Afp, Washington

The United States will not coordinate air attacks on Islamic State militants with Syria but will seek to ensure their forces do not come into conflict, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview aired yesterday.

Paris conference aims to divide up tasks in IS fight
Afp Paris

The international conference in Paris today that gathers some 20 countries from the anti-Islamic State coalition will seek to divide up the roles between nations with often diverging interests. However, any decisions taken at the conference, jointly hosted by French President Francois Hollande and Iraqi President Fuad Masum, will not necessarily be made public, a French diplomatic source stressed.

Iran says Paris anti-jihadist meeting just for show
Afp, Tehran

Iran said Saturday it has no wish to attend an international conference in Paris on fighting the jihadist Islamic State group, dismissing the meeting as just for show. "What would interest Iran is a real fight against terrorism in the region and around the world, not this selective one," deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told state television.

Australia commits 600 troops to anti-IS campaign
Afp, Sydney

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said yesterday Australia would deploy 600 troops to the United Arab Emirates to join the US-led international coalition gearing up for war against Islamic State jihadists. Abbott said the deployment of about "400 air personnel and about 200 military personnel" followed a formal request from Washington for Australia to contribute to the international coalition against the rampaging Islamist group.

Germany sending 40 soldiers to Iraqi Kurdistan
Afp, Berlin

Berlin is preparing to send around 40 soldiers to northern Iraq to train Kurdish fighters battling against militants from the Islamic State, the German army said on Saturday. Following a decision last month by the German government to provide Kurdish peshmerga forces with weapons, Berlin's defence ministry said it had sent six soldiers to its consulate in Arbil, northern Iraq, to "coordinate" joint training exercises.

Indonesia arrests four Turks over Islamic State link
Afp, Jakarta

Indonesia's anti-terrorism police have arrested four Turks suspected of being linked to the Islamic State jihadist group, a spokesman said yesterday. The elite Detachment 88 police squad arrested the men, along with three Indonesians, after tailing their car on Saturday in central Sulawesi district of Poso, a known hotbed for militant activity, Boy Rafli Amar told AFP.