A prominent Saudi prince has appealed Muslim countries to take the lead in fighting terrorism. Prince Turki al-Faial told media in Abu Dhabi yesterday, that an Islamic counter terrorism alliance of 34 nations, that was announced in last December, should have been created sooner.
Prince Faial has earlier held ambassador posts to the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland. His comments came as Saudi Arabia hosts an 18-day military exercise with 20 members of the new alliance, which includes Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan and neighboring Gulf states. The ongoing exercise named ‘Thunder of the North’, is the largest military exercise witnessed in the region.
The Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism is an intergovernmental military alliance of 34 countries in the Muslim world united around military intervention against Islamic State and other counter-terrorist activities.