Islamic Military Alliance

For historical Muslim armies, see early Muslim conquests.
Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT)
التحالف الإسلامي العسكري لمحاربة الإرهاب

Map depicting IMAFT members
Formation 15 December 2015
Founder Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud
Type Military Alliance
Headquarters Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Location
Membership

The Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) (Arabic: التحالف الإسلامي العسكري لمحاربة الإرهاب‎), alternative translation Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, is an intergovernmental military alliance of countries in the Muslim world united around military intervention against ISIL and other counter-terrorist activities.[1][2] When the coaltion was announced there were 34 members; by March 2016 this had risen to 39.[3]

The organization is based at a joint command center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Its creation was first announced by Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defense, on December 15, 2015.[4][5]

Objectives

The alliance has stated that its primary objective is to protect the Muslim countries from all terrorist groups and terrorist organizations irrespective of their sect and name.[6][7][8]

The coalition has stated that it will fight terrorists in "Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan".[9]

The alliance has reaffirmed that it would operate in line with the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) provisions on terrorism.[9]

The new coalition is expected to deploy military forces into Syria to fight ISIS.[9]

Members

Listed below are countries that are included as members. Thirty-four countries were announced in the military alliance, each also part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and forming about 60% of all OIC member states. Although included, some countries have opted not to assist militarily while others are in ongoing discussions on whether to join the alliance or not.

Country Military roleα Supporter Reference(s)
 Bahrain Yes Yes [10]
 Bangladesh Yes Yes [11][12][13]
 Benin Included N/A
 Chad Included N/A
 Comoros Included N/A
 Cote d'Ivoire Included N/A
 Djibouti Included N/A
 Egypt Included Yes [11]
 Gabon Included N/A
 Guinea Included N/A
 Jordan Included Yes [11]
 Kuwait Included N/A
 Lebanon Included N/A
 Libya Yes Yes [14]
 Malaysia No Yes [15]
 Maldives Included N/A
 Mali Included N/A
 Mauritania Included N/A
 Morocco Included N/A
 Niger Included N/A
 Nigeria Yes Yes [14]
 Pakistan Yes Yes [15][16][17][18][19]
 Palestine Included N/A
 Qatar Included N/A
 Saudi Arabia Yes Yes [20][21][22]
 Senegal Included N/A
 Sierra Leone Included N/A
 Somalia Included N/A
 Sudan Included N/A
 Togo Included N/A
 Tunisia Included N/A
 Turkey Yes Yes [14]
 United Arab Emirates Yes Yes
 Yemen Included N/A
^α These countries have offered to provide military assistance if needed.

Additional Possible members

More than ten other Islamic countries, including Indonesia (world's largest Muslim nation), have expressed their support for the alliance, and Azerbaijan is discussing joining the alliance.[23][24][25] Saudi Arabia has also invited Afghanistan to join its newly formed Islamic military alliance against terrorism. Tajikistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia confirmed that Tajikistan is seriously studying the possibility of joining the Islamic Coalition to combat terrorism.[26][27]The following countries have discussed membership, but have not joined the alliance as yet.

Country Status Reference(s)
 Afghanistan Pending [28]
 Azerbaijan Pending [25]
 Indonesia Pending [24]
 Tajikistan Pending [26][27]

Military strength

Nuclear armed Babur cruise missiles

The combined strength of the alliance presents a formidable force. This strength is further bolstered with the inclusion of one nation possessing nuclear weapons, Pakistan.[29]

Another notable member of the alliance is the Turkish Armed Forces. Turkey is a Regional Power which produces Advanced Military platforms such as the Altay (tank), MILGEM project, TAI/Agusta Westland T129, Bayraktar Tactical UAS and the TAI TFX 5th Generation Air superiority fighter. With Turkey's participation and Industrial know how the alliance intends to create inter-polarity and network centricity.

Pakistan air force F-16s at Red Flag military exercise in 2010.

United Arab Emirates consists of seven Emirates & possesses the world's most advanced F-16s namely F-16 E/F Block 60s which are a half-generation ahead of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52+ air crafts that form the backbone of the US Air Force. UAE air force has also been involved in a series of anti terrorists operations in Syria.

Reactions

After initial ambiguity Pakistan welcomed the initiative; its government confirmed its participation and stated that the country is waiting for further details in order to decide the extent of its participation in the different activities of the alliance.[18]

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called it the "best response to those who are trying to associate terror and Islam".

The parliament of Bangladesh raised its concern about not including majority Shia countries in the alliance. The country pledged to remain neutral in all Shia-Sunni conflicts.[30][31]

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein expressed support for the alliance, but ruled out any military support from Malaysia.[15]

Egypt's Al-Azhar University called the alliance's formation "historic."[32]

The new alliance has been welcomed by the United States, with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter saying, "We look forward to learning more about what Saudi Arabia has in mind in terms of this coalition. [B]ut in general it appears it is very much in line with something we've been urging for quite some time, which is greater involvement in the campaign to combat ISIL by Sunni Arab countries.[5][22]

Germany's defense minister Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the alliance against terrorism but also stressed that it should be a part of the Vienna process involving all countries fighting against IS like the U.S., Europe, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia including Iran and China.[33]

Due to the dominance of the alliance by states having majority Sunni Muslim populations, it has been called “a sectarian coalition” by Hakeem Azameli, a member of the Security and Defense Commission in the Iraqi parliament.[14][34][35]

References

  1. ↑ "Joint statement on formation of Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism". www.mofa.gov.sa. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  2. ↑ "Islamic military coalition holds first meeting in Riyadh". Gulf News. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Army chiefs of 'anti-terror' coalition meet in Saudi". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Saudi Arabia Unveils 34-Country 'Islamic Military Alliance'". NBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  5. 1 2 DeYoung, Karen (2015-12-15). "Saudi Arabia launches ‘Islamic military alliance’ to combat terrorism". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  6. ↑ "UAE joins Muslim military alliance to fight terrorism". 7DAYS UAE. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  7. ↑ "Turkey joins Saudi-led Islamic military alliance against terrorism". TodaysZaman. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  8. ↑ "UAE joins 34-nation anti-terrorist military coalition | The National". www.thenational.ae. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  9. 1 2 3 "Islamic military alliance". Aaj News. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
  10. ↑ Habib Toumi (16 December 2015). "Bahrain hails new Islamic military alliance". Gulf News. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 Oliver Miles (16 December 2015). "Is Saudi Arabia’s anti-terrorist alliance real?". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "Bangladesh in 34-state Islamic military alliance". thedailystar.net. Reuters Dubai. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Saudi-based ‘Islamic military alliance’ formed to fight terror". http://nypost.com/. Associated Press. Retrieved 23 December 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  14. 1 2 3 4 Kayode Sesan (16 December 2015). "Turkey Confirms Membership of Sunni ‘Islamic Military Alliance’, Nigeria, Libya Also Members". SIGNAL. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 "'Members' surprised by Saudi anti-terror coalition plan". BBC. 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  16. ↑ Baqir Sajjad Syed (2015-12-16). "Pakistan surprised by its inclusion in 34-nation military alliance". DAWN. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  17. ↑ Editorial (2015-12-18). "Pakistan Joins Saudi-Lead Anti-Terror Coalition". sputnik. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  18. 1 2 Baqir Sajjad Syed (2015-12-16). "Pakistan confirms participation in Saudi-led anti-terror alliance". DAWN. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  19. ↑ Bokhari, Farhan (2016-03-09). "Pakistan’s Sharif visits Saudi Arabia amid debate over military ties". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  20. ↑ "Saudi Arabia forms Muslim 'anti-terrorism' coalition". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  21. ↑ "Saudis announce Islamic anti-terrorism coalition - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  22. 1 2 "Saudi Arabia announces 34-state Islamic military alliance against terrorism". Reuters. 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  23. ↑ Wam (16 December 2015). "34-nation alliance to fight terrorism". Emirates 24/7. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  24. 1 2 Marguerite Afra Sapiie (2015-12-16). "Indonesia yet to decide on Saudi-led military coalition". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
  25. 1 2 Sara Rajabova (2015-12-15). "Baku considers joining Riyadh-based coalition to fight terrorism". AzerNews. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
  26. 1 2 "Tajikistan, Azerbaijan to Join Islamic Coalition - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT". ASHARQ AL-AWSAT. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  27. 1 2 "Tajikistan reportedly plans to join Muslim anti-terror coalition formed by Saudi Arabia | Tajikistan News-NA "Asia-Plus"". news.tj. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  28. ↑ "Afghanistan invited to join Saudi-formed Islamic military alliance against terrorism". www.thefrontierpost.com. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
  29. ↑ http://www.khilafah.com/the-military-strength-of-the-muslim-world/
  30. ↑ "Ashraf questions joining Saudi alliance". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  31. ↑ "Confusion over Saudi coalition". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  32. ↑ "Egypt's Azhar says Saudi decision to form Islamic military alliance 'historic'". Ahram Online. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  33. ↑ "Germany welcomes 34-state Islamic military alliance against terrorism". Business Insider. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  34. ↑ Serguei Doubine; Behnam Masoumi; Riad Muasses; Rita Del Prete (15 December 2015). "What do Russia and Iran think about Saudi Arabia’s coalition initiative?". euronews. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  35. ↑ "Turkey joins Sunni ‘anti-terrorist’ military coalition". Agence France-Presse. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
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