Arab League agrees to create joint military force

The League has been meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh amid a crisis in Yemen and the threat of jihadists who have made major gains in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

However, establishing the make-up and remit of the force could take months, analysts say.

A 10-nation, Saudi-led coalition is currently carrying out air strikes against rebels in Yemen.

The strikes are in support of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who fled after gains by the Shia Houthi rebels.

Correspondents have described the conflict as a proxy war between Sunni Arab nations and Shia Iran.

'Voluntary force'

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said: "The Arab leaders have decided to agree on the principle of a joint Arab military force."

Like everyone else, President Sisi sees plenty to worry about as he looks across the Middle East. He describes the growing threats to the region as "unprecedented".

Unsurprisingly this military man loudly advocates military solutions. And now he has got agreement on the principle of establishing a joint Arab military force.

We are yet to see what this might look like in detail. And there will be plenty of sceptics.

In an area as sensitive as military intervention, how much real coordination might be possible across an Arab world that is so often so easily divided?

But perhaps things are changing a little. Even as President Sisi spoke, exactly the kind of action he wants to see was unfolding. A Saudi-led joint Arab force - which has come together surprisingly quickly and easily - was striking at Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.

(BBC)