International

Arab League members urged to stop ISIS

The head of the Arab League on Sunday urged its members to join the battle against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Nabil Elaraby told the League’s 22 countries to confront ISIS “militarily and politically,” and to present a “clear and firm decision for a comprehensive confrontation.”

{mosads}Elaraby warned ISIS is a threat to the existence of Iraq and other countries in the Middle East, The Associated Press reports.

ISIS is “one of the examples of the challenges that are violently shaking the Arab world, and one the Arab League, regrettably, has not been able to confront,” he said. 

Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are members of the Arab League and countries that could join in the West’s military campaign. It’s unclear, however, what action the group might take to confront ISIS, the AP reported. 

The Obama administration has not yet expanded its military campaign against ISIS because officials have been trying to gather support from regional players. 

White House deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken suggested Thursday the United States was already seeing countries “starting to stand up” against ISIS.