Six EU countries join group to ‘destroy’ Islamic State

A coalition of Nato allies was ready to join the United States in military action against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria, US President Obama announced at the end of the NATO Summit in Wales, 4-5 September 2014.

Six of these countries were members of the EU - Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK. The other members of this 'Core Group / Core Coalition' were Australia, Canada, Turkey and the US.

At a meeting in Germany on 17 September 2014, Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told Chancellor Angela Merkel his country did not provide financial support to Islamist militants.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Council Conclusions on Iraq, Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 15 August 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-conclusions-on-iraq-foreign-affairs-council-meeting-brussels-15-august-2014/

ESO: Background information: NATO leaders take decisions to ensure robust Alliance http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-leaders-take-decisions-to-ensure-robust-alliance/

BBC News, 05.09.14: Obama: Nato coalition ready to join US against IS http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29085248

The Guardian, 04.09.14: David Cameron scolds Nato leaders over Islamic State ransom payments http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/04/david-cameron-isis-ransom-hostage-david-haines

Euronews, 07.09.14: Five NATO members to supply Ukraine with arms http://www.euronews.com/2014/09/07/five-nato-members-to-supply-ukraine-with-arms/

BBC News, 05.09.14; No ransom payments to terrorists, Cameron tells Nato http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29072940

Deutsche Welle, 17.09.14: Emir assures Merkel: Qatar has never supported 'IS' militants http://dw.de/p/1DDxw

Euro|Topics: Who saying what: Broad alliance against IS http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2014-09-koalitiongegenis/

EUObserver, 25.09.14: European powers focus on Islamic State at UN assembly http://euobserver.com/foreign/125760

ESO: Background information: French hostage Herve Gourdel beheaded in Algeria http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-hostage-herve-gourdel-beheaded-in-algeria/

ESO: Background information: Cameron hails David Haines as 'British hero' and vows to hunt down killers http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-hails-david-haines-as-british-hero-and-vows-to-hunt-down-killers/

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 26.09.14: Obama calls on world to fight IS http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER151073-Obama-calls-on-world-to-fight-IS

The New York Times, 02.10.14: In New Front Against Islamic State, Dictionary Becomes a Weapon http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/world/europe/islamic-state-isis-muslims-term.html

Deutsche Welle, 02.10.14: Denmark votes to join IS airstrikes http://dw.de/p/1DP2R

Deutsche Welle, 02.10.14: Defense Minister von der Leyen visits peshmerga training in Bavaria http://dw.de/p/1DP38

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