Watching GOP Debates when I came across this:
A joint operations center is to be established in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, State media reported.
Countries from Asia, Africa and the Arab world are involved in the alliance but Saudi Arabia's main regional rival Iran is not. Neither Iraq nor Syria, whose governments are close to Shia-ruled Iran, are in the coalition, nor is Afghanistan.
It comes amid international pressure for Gulf Arab states to do more in the fight against so-called Islamic State.
Saudi Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman said the new alliance would co-ordinate efforts against extremists in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan.
Two things stand out immediately about this new Saudi-based Islamic Coalition.
The Shia-majority nations of Iran and Iraq are noticeably absent, as is their ally Syria.
It is far from clear how, in practice, the coalition would conduct counter-terrorism operations in IS-plagued Iraq and Syria without the agreement of those governments. Secondly, there is the question of the exact definition of terrorism. The Saudi authorities' interpretation of it extends far beyond the violent actions of armed insurgents.
Recent legislation has branded peaceful opposition activists and reformers, whether online or in the street, as suspected "terrorists" and a security risk to the state.
Amnesty International said it had concerns that this new coalition could be used to further restrict human rights.
Speaking at a news conference in Riyadh, Prince Mohammed said the counter-terrorism force was borne out of "the Islamic world's vigilance in fighting this disease, terrorism, which has damaged the Islamic world. The coalition would not just focus on fighting IS, he added. Few other details have been given.
The list of 34 members: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinians, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
10 other "Islamic countries" had expressed support, including Indonesia.
Prince Mohammed said: "These countries have procedures to go through before joining the coalition, but out of keenness to achieve this coalition as soon as possible, the alliance of 34 countries has been announced." In announcing the coalition, Islam forbids "corruption and destruction in the world" and that terrorism represents, a serious violation of human dignity and rights, especially the right to life and the right to security".
Saudi Arabia is part of the US-led coalition against IS and is also leading a military intervention in Yemen against Shia Houthi rebels.
UPDATE
At least two nations said they were taken by surprise by the Saudi announcement that they were part of a 34 nation coalition. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said he had to contact the embassy in Saudi Arabia to learn more about their participation in the coalition, while the Lebanese foreign minister claimed his country was not a member. The Lebanese prime minister later clarified that they would be apart of the Saudi-led alliance, though the foreign ministry (currently ran by a pro-Iran/Syria minister and clashes with the pro-Saudi PM) says they weren’t consulted.
“[The coalition] seemed to have been cooked at the last minute,” Carnegie Middle East Centre’s Farea al-Muslimi, told AFP, adding that the coalition appears to be an attempt to ease international pressure on Saudi Arabia to deal with domestic ideology that allegedly inspires extremism throughout the Middle East.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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