Update | Arab states join campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
Support for Obama as he vows to 'destroy' militants and expand air strikes to Syria
Washington yesterday gained the support of 10 Arab nations as it sought to build an international coalition following a pledge by US President Barack Obama's to "destroy" Islamic State.
Addressing the nation late on Wednesday, the president announced a "systematic campaign of air strikes" against Islamic State fighters "wherever they exist", signalling the United States' targets would expand from Iraq to Syria.
Watch: Obama vows Syria air strikes to destroy Islamic State
"If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven," said Obama, adding that the US would "lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat".
Nearly 40 nations have agreed to contribute to the fight against the brutal jihadist group, but in expanding the fight across the Syria border the US is relying on Middle East allies.
Secretary of State John Kerry flew into Saudi Arabia yesterday, where 10 Arab states, including his hosts, agreed to rally behind Washington. The group issued a statement saying "the participating states agreed to do their share in the comprehensive fight".
In addition to Saudi Arabia, the other Arab states are Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia has agreed to open its military bases to train moderate Syrian rebels. But Kerry said that no country in the alliance was talking about sending ground troops to participate.
Earlier yesterday, a Turkish official suggested the country would not allow a US-led coalition to attack jihadis in Iraq and Syria from its air bases, nor would it take part in combat operations.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany had not been asked to take part in air strikes on Syria and would not be participating. "To be quite clear, we have not been asked to do so and neither will we do so," Steinmeier said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he "had not ruled anything out" - overriding his foreign secretary, who had said hours earlier that Britain would not take part in air strikes in Syria.
Russia questioned the legality of the campaign, while Iran's foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said there were "uncertainties" about the "so-called international coalition".
"Its seriousness and sincerity to tackle the root causes of terrorism is fundamentally questionable," she said.
Syrian National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar said that air strikes on Syrian territory without permission from the government in Damascus would be an "attack" on the country.
