Saudi Arabia forms 34-nation anti-'terrorist' military coalition

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday the formation of a military coalition of 34 countries including Gulf states, Egypt and Turkey to fight "terrorism" in the Islamic world. The Saudi-led alliance does not include the kingdom's Shiite regional rival Iran, or Syria and Iraq. It will be based in Riyadh "to coordinate and support military operations to fight terrorism", with participation from Middle Eastern, African and Asian states, the SPA state news agency said.