Israel Ready To Provide 'Informal' Help To Anti-ISIS Alliance

November 14, 2014

Israel is ready to unofficially help the US-led coalition in its fight against the Islamic State (IS), but will neither join the coalition nor take part in military intervention in Syria or Iraq, Minister Plenipotentiary of Israeli Diplomatic Mission in Russia said Friday.

"This problem [IS activity] exists and Israel monitors everything that is happening there very attentively, because it is close to us, but we do not interfere. These are internal issues of the countries where it is happening. Our interference would be counterproductive," Olga Slov said during the briefing.

Israel always makes it clear that its borders are sacred, according to Slov.

"From our side, we are also ready to render assistance, but not in a military way and not by joining the coalition. We can do something informally including [cooperation with] Jordan, that feels threatened by IS. We will cooperate with them one way or another," Slov added.

The IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June 2014, the group extended its attacks to northern and western Iraq, declaring a caliphate on the controlled territories.

A US-led international coalition of around 60 states has been conducting airstrikes on IS positions since August.
(Sputnik)