U.S. official: Arab states offer to launch airstrikes on Islamic State

Reporting from Washington —  Several Arab nations have offered to launch airstrikes on the Islamic State militant group, lending an important boost to U.S efforts to knit a broad coalition against the advancing extremists, according to a U.S. official.

The nations have offered their help to the Iraqis, who are struggling to halt the group in the country’s north and west, or directly to U.S. military officials, the American official said.

It was not clear that any of the Arab countries have offered to provide ground troops against Islamic State, which would be an even more valuable complement to the planned American air campaign in Iraq and Syria. The Obama administration has declared it will provide no ground troops, though U.S. officials acknowledge troops will be needed to make airstrikes effective.

Even so, the news marks an important step forward for the U.S. coalition-building campaign, which has come up against major challenges as Secretary of State John F. Kerry and other officials have fanned out across the world in the last week seeking partners.

Kerry also said Sunday that Middle Eastern states have offered to provide airstrikes.

“I can tell you right here and now that we have countries in this region, countries outside of this region, in addition to the United States, all of whom are prepared to engage in military assistance, in actual strikes, if that is what is required,” Kerry said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Kerry said that some countries have also offered ground troops, but he didn’t specify whether they were Arab nations. He said U.S. officials “aren’t looking for that, at this moment, anyway.”

He said he was “extremely encouraged” by the offers of help.

Many Sunni and Shiite Muslim nations are deeply worried about the violent Sunni Al Qaeda-breakaway group, which has claimed territory in Syria and Iraq about the size of the state of Maryland. But many fear domestic political blowback if they’re seen joining another American-led military campaign that many Sunnis believe would help a feared adversary, Shiite Iran.

Although 10 countries signed a statement this week saying they support efforts against Islamic State, the statement was vague on details. Key allies such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey have sought to avoid detailing what kind of help they might provide, beyond humanitarian assistance.

News of the Arab nations’ offer was first disclosed by U.S. officials traveling with Kerry, who is now wrapping up a weeklong coalition-building trip.

The United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are among the Arab countries with at least a limited capability to carry out airstrikes.

But for the United States, the symbolic significance of such help is more important than the practical assistance it will give.

U.S. officials are seeking to build a coalition of as many as 100 countries providing a range of military and nonmilitary assistance, to lend legitimacy to the anti-Islamic State effort. The administration and its allies aren’t likely to win a U.N. Security Council blessing for another military campaign in the Middle East.