Maliki Urges Neighbors to Join in Iraq’s War Against ISIS

Says Caliphate Is a Problem for the Whole Region

Desperate to get any help he can with the ongoing war against ISIS, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today urged all neighboring countries to join the conflict, arguing the declaration of a Caliphate by ISIS poses a problem for the whole region.

Maliki has already gotten support from Iran, and some airstrikes from neighboring Syria, which has also lost a lot of territory to ISIS. Its other neighbors have so far not gotten directly involved.

Jordan seems the most likely future target, with ISIS having taken over their border with Iraq. Turkey remains unlikely to get involved in the war directly, having long backed the rebels against Syria.

That leaves Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which likewise seem unlikely to join the ISIS war. Saudis, like Turkey, have openly backed the rebels in Syria. Unlike Turkey, the Saudis have openly backed Islamist factions, and would definitely not suddenly change sides over concerns about ISIS.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.