Saudi-Led Anti-Terror Alliance Hasn't Ruled Out Ground Troops
Saudi Arabia's Islamic anti-terror alliance will share information and train, equip and provide forces if necessary for the fight against the IS group, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a briefing in Paris on Tuesday, Reuters reports.
"Nothing is off the table," al-Jubeir said when asked whether the initiative could include ground troops.
Putin has just said to U.S.Secretary of State Kerry, according to RIA:
"Today you have had extensive talks with Russia's Foreign Ministry. Minister Lavrov has reported to me in detail about your proposals and about several questions that need further consideration. I am very pleased to meet with you and talk."
U.S. Secretary of State Kerry has started his meeting with Putin.
Putin told him, "You know, we are searching together for resolutions to the most complex crises."
This tweet from the BBC's Steve Rosenberg sums up the current situation regarding news of U.S. Secretary of State Kerry's talks with his Russian counterpart Lavrov today on Syria.
RIA Novosti is suggesting that Kerry's meeting with Putin has started.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told Russia's President Putin that the United States is "grateful to Russia for its cooperation," RIA is reporting.
Kerry is meeting Putin in Moscow following earlier discussions on Syria with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Russia's General Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford have discussed cooperation in Syria between Russia and the U.S.-led coalition against IS, RIA Novosti is reporting.
The telephone call was initiated by the United States, according to RIA.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that Gerasimov and Dunford "exchanged views on the situation in Syria and the practical aspects of cooperation between the Russian air force and the coalition's aircraft, in the war against IS."
A Lebanese minister has insisted that his country is not part of a newly announced Saudi-led counterterror alliance, contradicting Riyadh’s own statement on its formation, NOW Media reports.
“Lebanon is not a participant in the Islamic coalition against terrorism,” Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi told MTV in an interview today.
Counterterrorism analyst Patrick Skinner comments on the emerging reports that Los Angeles schools have been ordered shut due to a "credible" terror threat.
Jordan's government spokesman Mohammad Momani has said that Jordan is always ready to join any endeavor aimed at countering terrorism, Jordan's Petra News Agency reports.
He told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the Kingdom deems the war on terrorism as "our war and the Muslims war" against terrorists who carry out "ugly and brutal" acts in the name of religion, however, Islam, the religion of peace and tolerance, abhors them.
Terrorism is the real and direct threat to stability in the region and the world, he added.