(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
The United States has broadened its offensive against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and says it intends to stop the militants' offensive within months.
Arab League states have also agreed to cooperate in confronting the armed fighters, but it is not yet clear whether they will coordinate their actions with the United States.
And while the international community steps up military efforts to eradicate the Islamic State from the Middle East, a solution to Iraq's political crisis may be close.
Marina Freri reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Last month, US President Barack Obama raised doubts over his leadership in an international mission against the Islamic State when he said he had no clear strategy.
But now Mr Obama has promised to address those concerns with a detailed plan to be unveiled later this week.
He is maintaining the plan will not involve troops on the ground fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIL, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
"We're not looking at sending in a hundred-thousand American troops. We are going to be, as part of an international coalition, carrying out air strikes in support of work on the ground by Iraqi troops, Kurdish troops. We are going to be helping to put together a plan for them so that they can start retaking territory that ISIL had taken over. What I want people to understand, though, is that, over the course of months, we are going to be able to not just blunt the momentum of ISIL. We are going to systematically degrade their capabilities, we're going shrink the territory that they control, and, ultimately, we're going to defeat them."
An international coalition, comprised of forces from the United States, Europe and Oceania so far, is involved in the US-led operation.
That includes Australia, whose role, for now, is to conduct airdrops of weapons and supplies to Kurdish fighters in Iraq's north.
That could change soon, as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia is prepared to participate in future air strikes at the request of the United States.
"Clearly, there will have to be a coordinated approach with a number of nations who have a stake in the elimination of the ISIL ideology. And we talked about a range of ways in which countries can assist a US-coordinated approach."
In the meantime, the United States has already broadened its offensive, launching four air strikes against the militants in western Iraq.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says the attacks are in line with what he calls the United States' "guiding principles" of military action in Iraq.
"I think the strikes that the United States took are very much in line with what President Obama said were the guiding principles of military action in Iraq. First, the Iraqi government asked us for support in those strikes. Second, it was the Iraqi security forces on the ground who conceived of the operation. They, too, the Iraqi air force, is conducting strikes."
All international efforts are required to be in cooperation with Iraqi authorities, who are also trying to save the country from collapse with the creation of a more inclusive government.
The Iraqi parliament is set to approve the cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi.
Dr Abadi has been expected to include representatives of all the country's religious and ethnic components.
In Washington, Barack Obama says a stronger Iraqi political class is vital.
"We have to get an Iraqi government in place, and I'm optimistic that we should be able to get that done. And I will then meet with Congressional leaders on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I'll make a speech and describe what our game plan's going to be going forward."
Meanwhile, Arab League states have also agreed to cooperate in confronting the Islamic State militants.
Their meeting on Sunday has, however, stopped short of explicitly backing the air strikes conducted by the United States.
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi has called for a confrontation with the militants, who, he says, threaten the existence of Arab states.
(Translated) "After reviewing this subject, the council confirmed the critical Arab stance to take the necessary measures to preserve national Arab security and to thwart all extremist terrorist organisations, including the ISIL (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) terrorist group, and to combat its extensions and its extremist, criminal activities in the region."
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