An unprecedented coalition and the expanding fight against ISIL

Before the United Nations General Assembly, President Barack Obama reiterated that the U.S. is not in a war with Islam and that in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the United States does not act alone. 

"Today I ask the world to join in this effort," said Obama. "And we will demonstrate that the future belongs to those who build, not those who destroy."

He said that it was not us against them and that Muslims worldwide must stand against ISIL's corruption of their faith.

"We reject any suggestion of a clash of civilizations," said Obama. "Humanity’s future depends on us uniting against those who would divide us along fault lines of tribe or sect, race or religion."

Earlier this week, the U.S. military, along with its Arab allies — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Bahrain — began an air campaign in Syria against ISIL. Qatar did not send planes but played a supporting role.

More than 20 targets were hit around the city of Raqqa, according to the Department of Defense. Fighters from other extremist groups in the region — the Nusra Front and Khorasan, an Al-Qaeda branch — were targeted too.

U.S. Central Command says the mission against Khorasan bombed training camps, explosives factories and command centers near the city of Aleppo.

"We have been watching this group closely for some time, and we believe the Khorasan group was nearing the execution phase of an attack either in Europe or the [U.S.] homeland," said Lt. Gen. William Mayville, director of operations at the Joint Chief of Staffs.

The U.S.-Arab coalition against Sunni extremists is unprecedented. All five Arab countries helping in the campaign are led by Sunni Muslims.

“The terrorists and criminals targeting Syria, Iraq and other countries today are extreme reflections of a great global threat," said King Abdullah II Ibn al-Hussein of Jordan at the U.N. on Wednesday.  

“Terrorism affects innocent people and impoverishes their societies," said Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani. "Therefore we all must redouble our efforts to fight this phenomenon whatever its form, targets or source.” 

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled to Turkey in the past week as ISIL advanced through northern Syria. Turkey, a NATO member, initially refused to become involved in military action against ISIL at least in part because the group was holding 49 Turks hostage. Now that the hostages have been freed, the Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly reconsidering a role in the coalition.

Was Obama able to present a compelling argument that all the world needs to stand up to religious extremism?

Does the character of the coalition compensate for the U.S. sidestepping of the U.N. and other official channels to strike in Syria?

Was joining the coalition a hard decision for the Gulf states?

We consulted a panel of experts for the Inside Story.