U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Riyadh Friday to meet with Saudi Arabia's leadership about the developing crisis in Iraq, according to Agence France Presse Wednesday.
Kerry announced his Saudi visit Wednesday, telling reporters that "President Obama has also asked me travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday in order to meet with his majesty King Abdullah to discuss regional issues, including clearly the situation in Iraq."
Kerry said he will also talk to Saudi leadership about "how we can counter the sheer threat that is posed by ISIL as well as to discuss our support for the moderate opposition in Syria."
Riyadh earlier this week stated that Baghdad's Shiite-led government's "sectarian" policies are "to blame" for the rapidly developing Sunni militant offensive within the country.
The jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) who has become "the face" of the offensive, managed to take over control of areas in at least five of Iraq's provinces, as well as the Al Qaim Syria-Iraq border crossing within just three weeks.
More than 1,100 people have been killed during the past 18 days as ISIL and related militant groups attempt to claim more territory, including the capital, nationwide.
