JAKARTA - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned the war against ISIS is not over yet, while attending an international meeting discussing the terrorist group on the sidelines of his visit to Saudi Arabia.
"Extremists are trying to take advantage of opportunities to launch another attack," Foreign Minister Blinken said in Riyadh, after a meeting of the Global Coalition to beat ISIS, reported by The National News on June 9.
"We must remain committed to our goal to ensure stability in countries targeted by ISIS," he said.
Regional and world leaders gathered on Thursday in Saudi Arabia, to discuss how to deal with ISIS activities around the world.
Foreign Minister Blinken is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he has met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and senior officials such as Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Foreign Minister Blinken further said the safe return of foreign ISIS fighters stranded in Iraq and Syria to their homeland must be ensured.
"This is a priority to reduce the number of refugees in refugee camps throughout the region," he continued on the last day of the visit to the kingdom.
Foreign Minister Blinken warned that ISIS fighters and their families living in refugee camps across the region could cause the group's revival. He also asked for the demolition of the Al Hol refugee camp, one of the largest in Syria. The site houses more than 50,000 people.
Blinken underlined that Washington is committed "to defeating ISIS and eliminating the specter of terrorism". He also called on the international community to shore up efforts to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and Africa.
"We are monitoring the emergence of ISIS efforts to restart its activities in Afghanistan," Blinken added.
Leaving Saudi Arabia—a nation we have shared 80 years of partnership with—I am heartened by the new avenues for cooperation we've created with Saudi and @GCC partners. Together, we will continue our urgent work on Sudan, ensure ISIS stays defeated, and tackle global challenges. pic.twitter.com/EqyqwoQr1z
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 8, 2023
Giving Saudi Arabia a nation we have shared 80 years of partnership with I am received by the new audience for cooperation we've created with Saudi and @GCC partners. Together, we will continue our urgent work on Sudan,sure ISIS stays suspended, and tackle global challenges. pic.twitter.com/EqyqwoQr1z
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal said Riyadh called for the need to 'ring' ISIS funds.
"We have to work to prevent ISIS from exploiting every opportunity to return," he said.
"This can be done by establishing a number of centers to fight terrorism and extremist ideology," he said.
He added that the kingdom would "take all efforts to support the international coalition against ISIS" and "coordinated efforts to eradicate terrorism will continue".
He also asked world leaders to work together "to prevent ISIS from exploiting every opportunity to return".
Meanwhile, British State Minister for the Middle East Tariq Ahmad said London was also taking a number of steps to counter the ISIS threat, including a contribution of 88 million to continue efforts against counterterrorism, stabilization and socio-economic development in northeastern Syria and Iraq in the next five years.
"Although territorially defeated, ISIS is a threat that continues to destroy lives - not only in the areas that have been released in Iraq and Syria, but also in Afghanistan and parts of Africa where its affiliates are active," said Ahmad.
In yesterday's meeting, the GCC said it was committed to "fronting (ISIS) in various fields".
After a ministerial meeting, GCC Secretary General Jassem Al Budaiwi said he would help "dismantling the network and facing global ambitions, in a way that contributes to the creation of a common understanding among members of the International Coalition".
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