KSA throws full weight behind war on IS terror

The son of Crown Prince Salman, minister of defense, was among the eight Saudi airmen who took part in a US-led airstrike against Islamic State (IS) targets on Tuesday.
Prince Khaled bin Salman, a pilot, took part in the operations, sabq.org newspaper reported on Wednesday, much to the pride of his father, who expressed admiration at the team’s professionalism and bravery in standing up to the enemies of Islam.
A large number of Saudis, meanwhile, sent tweets praising the valor of Saudi pilots.
Saudi Arabia pledged stronger cooperation with the international community in combating terrorism.
“Saudi efforts will continue to eliminate terror outfits, including the IS,” said Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.
“The participation of the Kingdom in the US-led strikes against IS comes in response to...terror organizations that distort the image of Islam.” He said that the US-led efforts may require more time and resources to completely destroy extremist organizations.
“We have participated in US-led strikes because our interests necessitate such a move and to support Syrian brothers in their struggle, as well as to protect them from the evil of this deviant group,” said Prince Saud following his participation in the global forum on fighting terrorism. “We hope that this work is the beginning of a serious counter-terrorism move at the international level,” said the prince.
The Saudi air force personnel who took part in the operation have since received online death threats after their photos were published by the SPA, an official told Arab News.
A report said that the killing of IS and Al-Qaeda cadres in the airstrikes is what prompted IS members to issue threats to the Kingdom and its airmen. One Twitter user said the airmen were “wanted by IS,” while another said their throats “would sooner or later be slit.”
Sami Al-Faraj, an adviser to the GCC, said: “We view IS as an existential threat. If we don’t put a stop to it, it will expand into our area.”
The British, Dutch and Belgian parliaments are shortly going to consider proposals to join the US-led coalition’s airstrikes on Iraq, according to a report published in Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, on Wednesday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, meanwhile, is expected to issue a formal request for British assistance.