WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein — The establishment of a 34-nation anti-terror coalition by Saudi Arabia demonstrates the failure of US leadership in the Middle East, US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain told Sputnik.
"It is the most graphic example of the lack of American leadership that has motivated Saudis and others to basically embark on their own strategies in order to combat both ISIS [Daesh] and the Iranian threat," McCain stated on Tuesday.
"They are as committed to the overthrow, or the removal of Bashar Assad, as they are of ISIS [Daesh]," McCain said on Tuesday, noting that Assad is "a greater threat to them in many ways than ISIS is."
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced the creation of an anti-terrorism coalition, largely made up of Sunni Arab countries. The joint operation command center will be based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.