John Kerry met leaders from several Arab countries as well as Turkey
Ten Arab states,
including Saudi Arabia, have agreed to rally with the US in tackling the
threat posed by Islamic State (IS) jihadists.
The agreement followed talks between Arab ministers and US Secretary of State John Kerry in the Saudi city of Jeddah.A statement said they discussed a strategy to destroy IS "wherever it is, including in both Iraq and Syria".
Earlier, Russia warned the US against using air strikes in Syria.
The Russian foreign ministry said any such action, without the backing of the UN, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law.
IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a making a rapid military advance.
US President Barack Obama has threatened action against IS in Syria as well as Iraq and Mr Kerry has been tasked with trying to build a regional coalition against the militants.
As the meeting in Jeddah broke up, a joint statement declared a "shared commitment to stand united against the threat posed by all terrorism" including IS.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, Arab states taking part were Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Nato member Turkey was also represented.