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Islamic State conflict: London hosts coalition talks Islamic State conflict: London hosts coalition talks
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign ministers from 22 countries are meeting in London to discuss ways to co-ordinate their efforts to combat the jihadist group Islamic State (IS). Foreign ministers from 21 countries are meeting in London to discuss ways to co-ordinate their efforts to combat the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).
IS controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq and the US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes since August.IS controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq and the US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes since August.
But UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond insisted much more needed to be done.But UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond insisted much more needed to be done.
He told the BBC that the countries wanted to find ways to halt the flow of recruits to IS, cut off its funding and "tackle the underlying narrative".He told the BBC that the countries wanted to find ways to halt the flow of recruits to IS, cut off its funding and "tackle the underlying narrative".
They will also look at providing more military assistance to those fighting IS on the ground, and more humanitarian aid to its victims.They will also look at providing more military assistance to those fighting IS on the ground, and more humanitarian aid to its victims.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says the recent attacks by Islamist militants in France have put even greater political pressure on governments to show decisive results.BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says the recent attacks by Islamist militants in France have put even greater political pressure on governments to show decisive results.
'Greater resolve''Greater resolve'
Before leaving Washington to co-host Thursday's talks with Mr Hammond, US Secretary of State John Kerry said violent extremists hoped such attacks would drive the coalition apart. At the start of Thursday's conference at Lancaster House, which he is co-hosting with Mr Hammond, US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters: "We still have a lot of work to do."
"But in fact, their actions have had the opposite effect," he stressed. "They're bringing us together with greater determination, with greater resolve to be able to get the job done." "The purpose of coming here is to bring everybody's best advice, everybody's thoughts about where there may be weaknesses, everybody's thoughts about things we can do better, put that together and lay down the strategy for the days ahead."
A senior US state department official said foreign fighters would be the "real focus" of the London conference, and that an expert working group would be formed to discuss sharing information to stop them travelling.A senior US state department official said foreign fighters would be the "real focus" of the London conference, and that an expert working group would be formed to discuss sharing information to stop them travelling.
The European police agency, Europol, estimates that up to 5,000 EU citizens have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight. Thousands of others have travelled from Arab and Muslim states.The European police agency, Europol, estimates that up to 5,000 EU citizens have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight. Thousands of others have travelled from Arab and Muslim states.
Looking back at the past five months, Mr Hammond said the coalition's strategy had arrested the momentum of Islamic State across Iraq, which began in June when it routed several Iraqi army divisions and captured the northern city of Mosul. Looking back at the past five months, Mr Hammond said the coalition's strategy had arrested the momentum of Islamic State, whose advance across Iraq began in June when it routed several army divisions and captured the northern city of Mosul.
"The engagement of the coalition and the beginning of air strikes against [IS] positions halted that advance and in some cases it has begun to turn it back," he told the BBC."The engagement of the coalition and the beginning of air strikes against [IS] positions halted that advance and in some cases it has begun to turn it back," he told the BBC.
The state department official said the air campaign had "taken offline [Islamic State's] ability to command and control, their ability to mass and manoeuvre". The state department official said IS had "gone from a force that was very much capable militarily to conduct fairly large-scale offensive operations to a force that is now digging in for defensive operations".
"And they've gone from a force that was very much capable militarily to conduct fairly large-scale offensive operations to a force that is now digging in for defensive operations."
What is Islamic State (IS)?What is Islamic State (IS)?
But Mr Hammond warned that there was "a big job ahead of us". IS still controls many cities and major towns in northern and western Iraq. However, Iranian-backed Shia militia have begun advancing northwards from Baghdad, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the north-east have retaken the Mosul dam and the town of Sinjar.
"We are building the Iraqi security forces from a state of disarray and poor training and poor leadership... for what will be need to be a sustained offensive against [IS] forces on the ground." In Syria, air strikes have failed to dislodge IS from its stronghold of Raqqa or stop the group from expanding its control in neighbouring areas. However, it has been unable to capture the town of Kobane after facing fierce resistance from Kurdish fighters backed by coalition aircraft.
Mr Hammond warned that there was "a big job ahead" in Iraq.
"We are building the Iraqi security forces from a state of disarray and poor training and poor leadership... for what will need to be a sustained offensive against [IS] forces on the ground."
"It will be months yet before they are ready to start significant combat operations.""It will be months yet before they are ready to start significant combat operations."
Speaking in Iraq before flying to London, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the international community needed to do more to train and equip ground forces.Speaking in Iraq before flying to London, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the international community needed to do more to train and equip ground forces.
"We are in this almost on our own," he told the Associated Press. "There is a lot being said and spoken, but very little on the ground."
In Syria, the US and its Western allies are relying on "moderate" rebels to take the fight to IS, and are reluctant to co-operate with President Bashar al-Assad, who they want out of power.In Syria, the US and its Western allies are relying on "moderate" rebels to take the fight to IS, and are reluctant to co-operate with President Bashar al-Assad, who they want out of power.
The rebels have received some training and equipment from the US, but have so far been unable to dislodge the jihadists from their strongholds in the country's north and east.
The countries taking part in the conference along with the US and UK are Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.The countries taking part in the conference along with the US and UK are Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.