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Islamic State crisis: Kerry to meet Arab leaders in Jeddah Russia warns US against strikes on Islamic State in Syria
(about 4 hours later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry is to meet key Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, as he tries to build a coalition against Islamic State (IS) militants. Russia has warned that US air strikes against militants in Syria would be a "gross violation" of international law.
A US official was quoted as saying Mr Kerry would discuss co-operation in Jeddah to facilitate US air strikes. The foreign ministry said any such action, without the backing of the UN, would be "an act of aggression", Interfax news agency reported.
Earlier, President Barack Obama said he would not hesitate to take action against IS in Syria as well as Iraq. It comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry meets Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia to try to build a coalition against Islamic State (IS) militants.
President Obama has threatened action against IS in Syria as well as Iraq.
IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance.
In a speech outlining his strategy, Mr Obama said any group that threatened America would "find no safe haven".In a speech outlining his strategy, Mr Obama said any group that threatened America would "find no safe haven".
He also announced that 475 US military personnel would be sent to Iraq but said they would not have a combat role.He also announced that 475 US military personnel would be sent to Iraq but said they would not have a combat role.
IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance. But the statement brought a strong reaction from Russia, which has been an ally of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Its fighters have become notorious for their brutality, beheading enemy soldiers and Western journalists on video. "The US president has spoken directly about the possibility of strikes by the US armed forces against Isil (IS) positions in Syria without the consent of the legitimate government," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich was quoted as saying.
The US has launched over 150 air strikes against the group in Iraq and has provided arms to Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting against IS. "This step, in the absence of a UN Security Council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law."
The US has launched more than 150 air strikes against the group in Iraq and has provided arms to Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting against IS.
The jihadist group has become notorious for its brutality, recording their beheadings of enemy soldiers and Western journalists.
Rebel trainingRebel training
Mr Kerry, who arrived in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Thursday, will hold talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states as well as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nato member Turkey.Mr Kerry, who arrived in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Thursday, will hold talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states as well as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nato member Turkey.
"Many of the countries are already taking action against Isil [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - the previous name for IS] ," a State Department official was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency."Many of the countries are already taking action against Isil [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - the previous name for IS] ," a State Department official was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
"But the trip by the secretary [Kerry] is going to broaden the coalition and bring it into more focus and intensify the lines of effort.""But the trip by the secretary [Kerry] is going to broaden the coalition and bring it into more focus and intensify the lines of effort."
Among the issues to be discussed would be training for Syrian rebels on Saudi soil and a wider overflight permission from regional states to increase the capacity of US aircraft, reports say. Reports say that among the issues to be discussed are training for Syrian rebels on Saudi soil and broader permission from regional states to use their airspace in order to increase the capacity of US aircraft.
President Obama's anti-IS strategyPresident Obama's anti-IS strategy
Syria's warning
In a 15-minute speech shown at peak time in the US on Wednesday, President Obama vowed that America would lead "a broad coalition to roll back" IS.In a 15-minute speech shown at peak time in the US on Wednesday, President Obama vowed that America would lead "a broad coalition to roll back" IS.
"Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we're hitting Isil targets as Iraqi forces go on the offense," he said."Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we're hitting Isil targets as Iraqi forces go on the offense," he said.
President Obama was elected in part because of fervent opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and presided over the US troop pullout from the country.President Obama was elected in part because of fervent opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and presided over the US troop pullout from the country.
Analysis: Jon Sopel, BBC North America editor, WashingtonAnalysis: Jon Sopel, BBC North America editor, Washington
For the first time, Islamic State targets on the ground in Syria will be in the crosshairs of American pilots. The president told the American people: "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are." But he was equally emphatic that the combat on the ground would happen without US troops. Instead the US will ramp up its military assistance to the Syrian opposition.For the first time, Islamic State targets on the ground in Syria will be in the crosshairs of American pilots. The president told the American people: "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are." But he was equally emphatic that the combat on the ground would happen without US troops. Instead the US will ramp up its military assistance to the Syrian opposition.
But the president was also at pains to express what this wasn't. "We will not get dragged into another ground war," he insisted. He said that America would lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat and would not be acting alone. There were two cautionary notes - the first on timescale and also that this would not be risk-free to American servicemen and women. Action is going to start: who knows when it will be mission accomplished.But the president was also at pains to express what this wasn't. "We will not get dragged into another ground war," he insisted. He said that America would lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat and would not be acting alone. There were two cautionary notes - the first on timescale and also that this would not be risk-free to American servicemen and women. Action is going to start: who knows when it will be mission accomplished.
The speech Obama had hoped to avoidThe speech Obama had hoped to avoid
Last year, President Obama abandoned plans to launch airstrikes in Syria against government forces after congressional opposition.Last year, President Obama abandoned plans to launch airstrikes in Syria against government forces after congressional opposition.
In his speech, he ruled out working with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, despite the fact that his forces are also engaged in fighting IS.In his speech, he ruled out working with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, despite the fact that his forces are also engaged in fighting IS.
"In the fight against Isil, we cannot rely on an Assad regime that terrorises its people: a regime that will never regain the legitimacy it has lost" he said. "In the fight against Isil, we cannot rely on an Assad regime that terrorises its people: a regime that will never regain the legitimacy it has lost," he said.
Instead, he said, the US would seek to strengthen the non-IS Syrian opposition, which fights against both IS and President Assad.Instead, he said, the US would seek to strengthen the non-IS Syrian opposition, which fights against both IS and President Assad.
Syria's Western-backed National Coalition welcomed Mr Obama's plan, and urged Congress to approve it.Syria's Western-backed National Coalition welcomed Mr Obama's plan, and urged Congress to approve it.
However, the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq says the Syrian opposition is fragmented and dominated by Islamists, who may be opposed to IS but are seeking Islamic rule rather than democracy.However, the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq says the Syrian opposition is fragmented and dominated by Islamists, who may be opposed to IS but are seeking Islamic rule rather than democracy.
Last month, Syria offered to help the US fight Islamic State.Last month, Syria offered to help the US fight Islamic State.
But Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem warned that the US had to co-ordinate with the Syrian government before launching any air strikes on its territory. "Anything outside this is considered aggression," he said.But Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem warned that the US had to co-ordinate with the Syrian government before launching any air strikes on its territory. "Anything outside this is considered aggression," he said.