You are here
Riyadh talks seek stronger Iraqi army —Western source
By AFP - Feb 19,2015 - Last updated at Feb 19,2015
RIYADH — Military chiefs gathered in the Saudi capital on Thursday sought to bolster the Iraqi army against Daesh terror group, a Western diplomatic source said.
United States General Lloyd Austin, who heads the US-led war against Daesh, is among the senior officers attending the two-day talks that opened Wednesday in Riyadh behind closed doors.
"I'm confident that they are looking at a firm plan, a coordinated plan, to empower the Iraqi army" against Daesh, the source said, asking for anonymity.
With "nobody" interested in putting ground troops into the country, strengthening Iraq's 200,000-strong army against about 30,000 Daesh fighters remains the best option, he said.
Many Iraqi soldiers abandoned their weapons and uniforms when Daesh advanced last June, seizing large areas of the country.
The extremists also hold parts of Syria.
They have claimed atrocities including the burning alive of Jordanian fighter pilot Muath Kasasbeh and the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians.
US officials say the Iraqi government army is being trained and armed to stage a major counter-offensive later in 2015. In the meantime the international coalition is using air raids to pressure Daesh supply lines.
Among Western nations, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France and the Netherlands have all bombed Daesh in Iraq, alongside the US.
Germany said in December it would send about 100 soldiers to northern Iraq to train Kurdish peshmerga fighters battling the extremists.
Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia has since September been participating in coalition air strikes against Daesh in Syria.
Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have also deployed warplanes.
"I think Syria is somewhat on the back burner now", the source said. "The first thing is you have to clear the house in Iraq."
He said he did not expect any dramatic change in coalition strategy from the Riyadh meeting.
American commanders have placed a top priority on pushing back the extremists in Iraq, while warning it could take years before a moderate Syrian rebel force is ready to make headway against the jihadists in Syria.
The official Saudi Press Agency said the 26 participating nations at the Riyadh talks "aim to reach measures serving international and regional security”.
Four similar meetings have occurred in other countries, SPA said.
The rise of Daesh in Libya has raised regional concern and was also expected to be discussed, the diplomatic source said.
On Monday, Egypt carried out its first announced military action against Daesh in neighbouring Libya, following the beheading of the Christians, most of whom are Egyptian.
Related Articles
Military chiefs from around the world will gather in the Saudi capital on Wednesday to assess the battle against Daesh extremists, diplomatic sources said.
BAGHDAD — Daesh militants attacked government forces and their Shiite militia allies on Saturday, killing 11 near the city of Baiji as part
AMMAN/BEIRUT — US-backed Syrian rebels were pushed back from the outskirts of a Daesh-held town on the border with Iraq and a nearby air bas