Arab foreign and defense ministers will sign a protocol for the creation of a joint defense force on Thursday, as the region faces mounting domestic turmoil in Yemen, Libya and Syria, as well as a surging threat by the Islamic State..
Most Arab states endorsed the proposal during the summit held in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort in March. Exceptions to the endorsement were Iraq and Algeria who have questioned military intervention in a given state and have asked for further information.
The protocol is expected to last for five years with the option to renew, but signatories are entitled to withdraw from it provided their forces are not involved in ground operations.
The meeting on Thursday will occur more than a week after Libya, torn between an internationally-recognized government and its Islamist rivals, called for an Arab military action against Islamic State fighters on its soil.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
