Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, has emphasized the importance of combating extremism and working tirelessly to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist organization ISIS.
During his opening speech at the ministerial meeting of the “International Coalition” against ISIS, held in Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed that the Kingdom would make every effort to pursue ISIS wherever it is found. He affirmed that “Saudi Arabia believes in the necessity of confronting terrorism and extremist ideology,” adding that it would continue the coordinated efforts to eradicate the scourge of terrorism from its roots.
On preventing the return of ISIS, the Saudi Foreign Minister stressed the need to work on preventing ISIS from exploiting any opportunity to return, and to dry up its funding sources. He urged all countries worldwide to work together to promote values of tolerance and dialogue, pointing out that the Kingdom’s 2030 vision focuses on sustainable development, youth empowerment, and fostering avenues for dialogue.
In turn, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, confirmed his country’s commitment to defeating ISIS and eradicating the scourge of terrorism. However, he cautioned that Afghanistan and some African regions have seen an increase in ISIS attacks.
Speaking at the meeting, Blinken also warned that keeping foreign ISIS militants in camps threatens the resurgence of the organization. He called on the concerned countries to repatriate their citizens from foreign ISIS militants, considering this step very important for dismantling the Al-Hol camp in Syria.
The two ministers had met the previous day on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, held at the Council’s General Secretariat in Riyadh. They discussed the strategic partnership between the two countries and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, in addition to the developments on the regional and international scenes.
It is worth mentioning that ISIS has significantly receded since 2017 from most areas it had controlled, both in Syria and Iraq. However, some regions in both countries still occasionally witness terrorist operations and attacks carried out by the “remnants” of the organization. Nevertheless, its attacks have taken on a more dangerous nature, both in Afghanistan and the African coast.
