Saudi Arabia to host Arab meeting on Syria, IS

AMMAN — Jordan will on Sunday take part in an Arab foreign ministers meeting to be hosted by Saudi Arabia to discuss the Syrian conflict and the rise of Islamic State jihadists, Egypt’s foreign ministry announced Saturday.

Along with Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are to take part in the talks that will be held in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Agence France-Presse reported.

The meeting will address “the growing presence in Iraq and Syria of extremists, notably the Islamic State [IS]”, the ministry said in a statement.

It added that the rise of IS meant the “search for a political solution to the Syria crisis was needed more than ever”.

Jordan is the largest host of Syrian refugees and a neighbour of Iraq. It has beefed up its military presence on the eastern border, in a move seen as a precaution after the rise of IS. 

Since declaring a “caliphate” in June, IS has conducted a lightning offensive, taking control of territory straddling Iraq and Syria.

The jihadists sparked worldwide horror and condemnation this week when they released a video showing the beheading of US journalist James Foley.

Saudi foreign ministry spokesman Osama Nugali told AFP that a “meeting between some Arab states will be held tomorrow [Sunday] to discuss some Arab issues”, without elaborating.