With Islamic State relentlessly attacking Arab nationals, the Arab countries have upped their ante against the terrorist group.
Arab nations have stepped up their operations against the Islamic State (IS) after the militant group intensified its series of brutal offences against their citizens.
On February 15, 2015 suspected IS militants beheaded 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya, which prompted Egypt to carry out attacks against the millitants. Several other countries have also upped the ante against IS. Below is a list of countries who have escalated their attacks against the militant group.
Egypt: After the beheading of 21 of its citizens, Egypt's air force bombed Islamic State targets inside Libya on February 16. For the first time, Egypt confirmed launching air strikes against the group in neighbouring Libya, suggesting that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is ready to escalate the fight against the militants seeking to topple his government.
Screen-grab of the video where suspected IS militants behead Coptic Christian Egyptians (AFP)
The military said the dawn strike, in which Libya's air force also participated, hit Islamic State camps, training sites and weapons storage areas in Libya, where a civil conflict has plunged the country into near anarchy. Read more
Jordan: A key US ally during the United States' invasion in Iraq, the country was shocked when the Islamic State released a video showing captured Jordanian pilot Mouath al-Kasaesbeh being burnt alive and buried under debris. Jordan, a part of the US-led alliance against the IS had been mounting air raids in Syria against the militant group. It vowed to avenge the pilot's death with an "earth-shaking" response. Read more
Jordanians hold banners during a demonstration on February 6, 2015 in the capital Amman to express their solidarity with the pilot murdered by the Islamic State (IS) group (AFP)
King Abdullah ordered his commanders to prepare for a bigger military role in the US-led coalition fighting the militants in both Syria and Iraq. The king cut short a visit to the United States to return home following word of Kasaesbeh's death. In a televised statement, he said the pilot's killing was an act of "cowardly terror" by a deviant group that has no relation to Islam.
UAE: The UAE had been supplying F-16 fighters to Jordan to aid it in its fight against the IS since last week, but suspended the mission after the pilot al-Kasaesbeh was killed, leading the country to fear problems in the search and rescue of their own pilots.
Bahrain: It became the second Arab nation after the UAE to aid Jordan in its plan to 'avenge' the militant group.
Iran: The United States has been hoping that Iran too joins its war against the group. During a recent meeting between the two countries, it was reported that a US-Iran co-operation was in discussion if the nuclear deal was secured. Read more
Turkey: Though the role of Turkey in providing arms, tactical support or conducting warfare with IS is not confirmed, it has the biggest Syrian refugee camp.
Syria: After IS conquered a third of its region, the Syrian government has been waging its own campaign against Islamic State, separate from the US-led alliances.
Kurds perform a traditional dance during a rally on January 26 in southeastern Turkey, following news that Kurdish fighters expelled Islamic State militants from the Syrian border town of Kobane (AFP)
It has been widely assumed that both Syrian and US armies have conveyed information about the movements of jets using the same air space. Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad spoke about speculations over indirect co-operations with other countries. "Through third parties, more than one party, Iraq and other countries, sometimes they convey a message, a general message, but there is nothing tactical," he said. (Read more)
Kurdish forces along with other Syrian insurgent groups and the backing of US-led air strikes have made significant gains in northern Syria. Federal troops, Shiite militiamen and Sunni tribesmen have also pushed IS back farther south, but significant territory, including three major Iraqi cities, remains in the hands of the jihadists. Read more
Iraq - The IS group controls around a third of both Iraq and neighbouring Syria. It captured Tikrit, which is about 130 kilometres north of Baghdad, during its sweep across northern and western Iraq last summer. Iran, Iraq and Syria have been jointly co-operating in the war against Islamic State.
Iraqi government forces celebrate on February 2, 2015 in al-Mansuriya, in Iraq's Diyala province, a week after soldiers and allied militias retook the area from Islamic State group's control. (AFP)
Islamic State has also released videos showing the beheadings of five US and British hostages and said that it killed two Japanese captives in the same way. It has meted out the same treatment to many more Arab prisoners, including Syrian government soldiers.
Islamic State emerged out of al Qaeda in Iraq. It expanded into Syria as the country plunged into a civil war, estimated to have killed 200,000 people since 2011.
With agency inputs
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}