Jordan king calls for collective strategy to defeat militants, says his country at forefront

UNITED NATIONS – Jordan's King Abdullah is calling for a collective strategy to contain and defeat extremists targeting Syria and Iraq.

"Those who say 'this is not our business' are wrong," he said in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. The security of every nation will be shaped by the fate of the Middle East, the king said, as he called for urgent humanitarian and security measures to deal with extremism and its victims.

Jordan, which shares a border with Syria, is among five Arab countries that launched airstrikes this week on Islamic State group targets in Syria this week.

In his speech, the king did not mention the airstrikes, but said his country is "at the forefront" of efforts to fight extremism.