Bassil to Head to Saudi Arabia for Talks on Tackling Islamic State

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil is scheduled to travel to Jeddah to attend talks on joint action against the Islamic State (IS) group, a cabinet minister said.

The minister, who was not identified, told al-Liwaa newspaper published Wednesday that Bassil will attend a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and around nine Arab states in addition to Turkey.

Kerry is seeking to build a broad coalition against jihadists in Iraq and Syria that has already won support from Arab nations.

The talks coincide with a much-touted address from President Barack Obama at the White House, where he will outline a strategy to confront IS and address criticism that he has been slow to respond to a wave of atrocities that has shocked the world.

Islamic extremists overran the Lebanese border town of Arsal last month, killing and capturing a number of soldiers and police officers.

The fighting between Lebanese troops and the militants was the most serious spillover yet of Syria's conflict into the neighboring country.

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H.K.