Saudi Arabia gathers ‘anti-terror’ alliance of 34 Muslim-majority nations

Saudi Arabia is leading a new anti-terror military alliance of 34 Muslim-majority nations, with a joint operations centre based in the kingdom’s capital Riyadh.

An announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency said the alliance was established because terrorism “should be fought by all means and collaboration should be made to eliminate it”.

While Saudi Arabia’s regional rival, Shia Iran, is not part of the coalition, the alliance brings together diverse Muslim countries from several continents, including Mali, Malaysia, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Egypt as well as neighbouring Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates.