The alliance does not include any countries with Shia-dominated governments, such as Iran, Iraq and Syria.[15] According to a Euronews report, some analysts see formation of the alliance as part of Saudi Arabian efforts to take the leading role in the Middle East and the Muslim world, in rivalry with Iran.[16] Due to the dominance of the alliance by states having majority Sunni Muslim populations, it has been called "a sectarian coalition" by Hakeem Azameli, a member of the Security and Defense Commission in the Iraqi parliament.[17][16][15]
However, Oman, an Ibadi-dominant country has joined the alliance. Lebanon has also supported the alliance.[18] Other countries who are part of the alliance or support it that have cordial or friendly relations with Iran include Bangladesh, Kuwait, Libya, and Pakistan.
In March 2016, it was reported that Saudi Arabia had asked the then Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif, to become commander of the ICMTC once he had retired from the Pakistan Army at the end of 2016.[19]
Members
Saudi Arabia's original announcement of the alliance on 15 December 2015 listed 34 countries as participants,[2] each also a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and forming about 60% of all OIC member states. As of May 2025, there are 43 member countries with the joining of Cameroon on 1 May 2025.
↑"Saudis announce Islamic anti-terrorism coalition". BBC News. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
12"Member Countries". The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. Archived from the original on Jan 16, 2021.
↑Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition. "Supporting Nations". Retrieved 27 May 2024.
↑Wam (16 December 2015). "34-nation alliance to fight terrorism". Emirates 24/7. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
↑Marguerite Afra Sapiie (2015-12-16). "Indonesia yet to decide on Saudi-led military coalition". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑Sara Rajabova (2015-12-15). "Baku considers joining Riyadh-based coalition to fight terrorism". AzerNews. Archived from the original on 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
↑Priyanto, Teguh (19 December 2018). Assegaf, Fardah (ed.). "Indonesia to not join IMCTC but shares similar spirit". Antara News. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
↑"Azerbaijan says joining Islamic Military Alliance not on its foreign policy agenda". Azeri-Press Agency. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
↑Youssef, Fatah Al-Rahman (21 December 2015). "Tajikistan, Azerbaijan to Join Islamic Coalition". Asharq Al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
↑"Tajikistan reportedly plans to join Muslim anti-terror coalition formed by Saudi Arabia". Asia-Plus. Archived from the original on 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
↑"IMCTC receives the Ambassdor of the United Republic of Tanzania". Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
↑"Raheel Sharif appointed chief of Islamic military alliance, confirms Khawaja Asif". Dawn. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-09.