Five Arab states participated in or supported airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria , the U.S. said . Jane Kinninmont says their support raises concerns about credibility and reputation . Some of the Gulf states are concerned that the West blames them for ISIS 's rise , she says . Saudi Arabia , which has confirmed its air force was involved in Tuesday 's strikes , has been the victim of al Qaeda ( AQ ) attacks before , in 2003-04 , and Jordan was bombed by an AQ affiliate led by Abu Musab al Zarqawi , an ideological precursor of ISIS . But pro - opposition states will explain why they did n't intervene against Assad , she says .
Five Arab states participated in or supported airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria , the U.S. said . Jane Kinninmont says their support raises concerns about credibility and reputation . Some of the Gulf states are concerned that the West blames them for ISIS 's rise , she says . But pro - opposition states will explain why they did n't intervene against Assad , she says .