The Maldives is among 34 countries that have joined a Saudi Arabian-led Islamic military alliance formed to combat terrorist organisations.

According to a statement from the state-owned Saudi Press Agency, “a joint operations centre shall be established in the city of Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations to fight terrorism and to develop the necessary programs and mechanisms for supporting these efforts.”

Announcing the new coalition at a press conference last night, Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, also the kingdom’s defence minister, said the coalition will “target all terrorist organisations in the Islamic world.”

The campaign would “coordinate” efforts to fight terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Afghanistan.

“Every country will be participating according to its capabilities and we will not only fight [the Islamic State], but any terrorist group,” he said.

More than 100 Maldivians are thought to be fighting with militant groups in Iraq and Syria, including the Jabhat al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS). At least seven Maldivian fighters have been killed in battles and local media reports suggest a steady outflow of would-be jihadis, including entire families and members of Malé’s criminal gangs.

Details of the Maldivian army’s participation in military operations remain unclear. The government has yet to officially comment on the decision to join the military coalition.

Ibrahim Muaz Ali, the president’s spokesperson, declined to comment and directed The Maldives Independent to the foreign ministry and the military. The spokesperson of the Maldives National Defence Force was not responding to calls at the time of publication.

The countries participating in the new alliance include Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Turkey, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gabon, Guinea, Palestine, Comoros, Qatar, Cote d’Ivoire, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Yemen.

Saudi Arabia’s regional rival Iran and its allies Syria and Iraq are not part of the alliance. But the joint statement said “more than ten other Islamic countries have expressed their support for this alliance and will take the necessary measures in this regard, including Indonesia.”

The kingdom has been engaged in a nine-month-long conflict with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and has carried out airstrikes against IS fighters in Syria.

IS, which controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria, has vowed to overthrow the monarchies of the Gulf states. The militant organisation has also targeted Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority and killed dozens in bomb attacks on mosques.

The formation of the new military alliance comes after the US urged Gulf Arab states to do more to aid the campaign against IS.