RIYADH – Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA) announced on Tuesday the formation of an Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism, with command center in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported.

A statement of the agency highlighted that the alliance consists of 23 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Turkey, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gabon, Guinea, Palestine, Comoros, Qatar, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.

More than ten other Islamic countries have expressed their support for this alliance and will take the necessary measures in this regard, including Indonesia, the statement added.

The alliance will be led by Saudi Arabia and its command center will be in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations to fight terrorism and to develop the necessary programs and mechanisms for supporting these efforts.

The appropriate arrangements shall be developed for coordination with friendly peace-loving nations and international bodies for the sake of supporting international efforts to combat terrorism and to save international peace and security.

While Saudi Arabia and other members in the alliance are engaged for months in a war against Houthis in Yemen, the statement didn't highlight the exact areas that will be targeted in fighting terrorism, or if Syria and territories of the Islamic States (IS) will be included or not, either the type of operations. (Xinhua)