Israel joins US coalition against IS

The US and Israel discussed plans for mutual cooperation in the battle against the Islamic State (IS), this is as part of the Washington’s plan to build an international coalition against the group, the US also plans to send additional American troops to the region.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonot this morning said that the US Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on cooperation between the two parties in the face of IS.

It said the Secretary of State is working to develop an international coalition to fight IS. US Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jane Sacchi yesterday said that Kerry and Netanyahu had discussed the ways in which Israel could provide assistance to the alliance to confront “terrorism in Syria and Iraq”.

Sacchi did not state which role Israel is expected to play in the coalition, however, she said that there are countries that can provide humanitarian assistance and others can provide assistance to the Kurds.

The newspaper quoted sources in the office of the Israeli prime minister as saying that Netanyahu and Kerry talked about the “coalition of the regional war against terrorism”.

Yedioth Aharonot said it expected the US to ask Israel to provide intelligence and not operational assistance. It also raised the possibility that Israel would be “front logistical supplies” for American operations in the region in the future.

American President Barack Obama issued instructions to send 350 more soldiers to Iraq. This is to strengthen the protection of the US embassy and representatives in the country.