The involvement of five Arab countries in the air strikes against ISIS in Syria is a major new development for the region. It is not yet clear exactly what role they have played in what the Pentagon described as "participation and support" for the operation, but this is about symbolism more than military might. For the U.S., it was vitally important to avoid this looking like another Western attack on a Middle Eastern country, and to emphasize that opposition to ISIS comes from within the Arab and Muslim worlds - where the vast majority of their victims have come from.
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Five Arab states participated in or support airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria, the U.S. says
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Jane Kinninmont says their support reflects concerns about security and reputation
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Some of the Gulf states are concerned that the West blames them for ISIS's rise, she says
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But pro-opposition Syrians will ask why they didn't intervene against Assad, she says
However, until recently, they were talking about an Arab intervention against @placeholder.