Arab nations rallied Tuesday behind US efforts to form a broad coalition against jihadists in Iraq and Syria as Secretary of State John Kerry headed to the region to cement their support.

Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia is to host talks Thursday between Kerry and ministers from 10 Arab states and Turkey on joint action against the Islamic State group.

The moves came as Britain announced it was shipping $2.6 million (two million euros) worth of weapons to Kurdish forces fighting the jihadists in Iraq.

Kerry's expected arrival in the region Wednesday comes with Washington buoyed by the formation of a new government in Baghdad.

It will coincide with a keenly awaited speech by President Barack Obama in which he has vowed to set out a strategy to defeat the jihadists whose wave of atrocities has shocked the world.

Iraq's campaign to claw back the territory it lost in the Sunni Arab heartland north and west of Baghdad in June, and US efforts to engage Sunni governments in the fightback, have been complicated by regional sectarian politics.

Saudi Arabia and the five other Gulf Arab states had deeply strained relations with the Shiite-led government in Baghdad, with each side blaming the other for the jihadists' advance.

But their foreign ministers will be among those attending Thursday's talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah, along with top diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq itself.

They will address "terrorism in the region, extremist organisations behind it and means of fighting them," Saudi state media said.

The Arab League, which has stopped short of explicitly backing ongoing US air strikes against IS, also drummed up regional support for the fight.

- 'Broadest possible coalition' -

Ahead of his visit, Kerry vowed to build "the broadest possible coalition of partners around the globe to confront, degrade and ultimately defeat (IS).

"Almost every single country has a role to play in eliminating the (IS) threat and the evil that it represents," he said.

Notably absent from Jeddah will be the Syrian government -- facing a three-and-a-half-year uprising backed by many of the participants -- and its regional ally Iran.

IS has taken advantage of the conflict to seize a big chunk of northeastern Syria in fighting with government forces, rival rebel groups and Kurdish militia.

Damascus views itself as a bulwark against the jihadists, but Washington has ruled out any cooperation for fear of alienating Syria's Sunni majority, who largely support the uprising.

Washington launched air strikes against jihadists in Iraq on August 8.

Obama has so far held back from authorising strikes on IS in Syria but has promised a comprehensive strategy against the group on both sides of the border in a speech to the American people Wednesday.

An opinion poll published Tuesday suggested Americans are hawkish toward the jihadists, with nine out of 10 saying IS is a serious threat.

And not only do nearly three-quarters favour the ongoing air strikes on the group in Iraq, but 65 percent would approve extending those operations into Syria.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that more strikes had been carried out over the previous two days near western Iraq's massive Haditha dam as part of operations to defend it from IS forces.

- Iraq government welcomed -

After months of wrangling, Iraq's new Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi finally formed a government Monday that Washington said had "the potential to unite all of Iraq's diverse communities".

Kerry described the new government as a "major milestone" in efforts to woo the Sunni Arab minority away from IS after the divisive rule of Abadi's predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki.

Shiite Iran -- alongside the United States, the key outside power in Iraq -- said it hoped the change of government in Baghdad would help turn the tide against IS.

"I hope that during your new mandate, complete calm will return to your country," President Hassan Rouhani said.

In reality, the new government does not constitute quite the sea-change hailed by Washington. It remains dominated by Iraq's Shiite Arab majority, the Kurds hold fewer ministries than before and the Sunni Arabs relatively minor ones.

The divisive Maliki becomes one of three vice presidents, alongside a Sunni Arab, former parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, and a secular Shiite and ex-premier Iyad Allawi.

Fuad Masum, a Kurd, became president in July.

Abadi also put off filling the key interior and defence portfolios, promising to name the two ministers who will take charge of the fightback against the jihadists within the next week.

The commander of one of the Shiite militias that have played a growing military role alongside the army has sought the interior ministry post.

Any such appointment would risk further alienating the Sunni Arab minority given the Shiite militias' brutal history in the sectarian bloodshed that gripped Iraq in 2006 to 2008.

In other developments, French President Francois Hollande will visit Iraq on Friday ahead of hosting a conference in Paris on security in the country next Monday, his office said.

Who's who in coalition to defeat Islamist extremists
Washington (AFP) Sept 09, 2014 - The United States is taking the lead in an international coalition aimed at repelling and defeating the Islamist extremists marauding across parts of Iraq and Syria.

Jihadists from the so-called "Islamic State," still referred to by US officials by their former acronyms ISIS or ISIL, have murdered thousands and declared a Muslim caliphate in the Middle East.

More than 40 countries -- mainly Western powers or Middle Eastern allies -- have committed to form a bulwark against the movement, the State Department said, although it has only named 25 of them.

Even though Iran and the United States both support Iraqi forces fighting IS, Tehran and Washington have both said they will not cooperate with the other. Syria is also a non-participant.

Military Assistance:

The United States has conducted 148 air strikes against IS targets in Iraq since August 8 and it has more than 800 military personnel to safeguard its Baghdad embassy and to assist Iraq's army.

It is talking with Iraq's new government about "accelerating efforts," including additional training and equipping of Iraqi Security Forces.

President Barack Obama will host a UN Security Council session September 24 on the threat of foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria.

Major partner Britain says it will ship 1.6 million pounds ($2.6 million) worth of heavy machine guns on Wednesday to Kurdish forces fighting IS in Iraq. It is also considering providing training to the Kurds.

French President Francois Hollande announced at NATO that France would participate "in accordance with international law" and at the request of the Iraqis.

Few details have emerged other than Paris already delivering weapons, but a diplomatic source said it would be "logical" that France participate in air strikes.

Canada has authorized a 30-day deployment of "several dozen members of the Canadian armed forces" to help advise and assist Kurdish forces.

Australia's military transport planes have delivered weapons to Kurdish forces. Canberra insists it will not send combat troops to Iraq, but in a Tuesday interview with ABC radio, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop suggested it may send military trainers and advisers.

Germany said it will provide military equipment and aid to Kurdish forces. Italy is slated to send military equipment to Kurdish forces Wednesday.

Albania has provided military equipment to Kurds, Estonia is donating one million artillery shells and Denmark's parliament has authorized its planes to resupply Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

Poland has offered military equipment to Kurds and delivered tons of assistance to Christian and Yezidi refugees via its C-130 aircraft.

On Monday Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Poland was waiting for the unveiling of US strategy before formulating next steps.

The Philippines is prepared to "do its part" in an alliance, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario told AFP, but no further details were given.

Humanitarian aid:

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that Tokyo would support Iraq's "anti-terrorism fight" following inauguration of Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi's new government in Baghdad.

Japan has committed $7.8 million in aid through the UN humanitarian office OCHA.

Switzerland has pledged more than $10 million in aid to OCHA. Norway committed at least $6 million, Denmark pledged $3.8 million, and Australia $4.6 million.

Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, New Zealand, South Korea and Spain have also pledged assistance.

Turkey is providing 100 truck loads of aid and a refugee camp near the Iraqi border.

The US, Britain, Canada, France and Australia have also either provided relief or conducted air drops.

The Gulf States:

A crucial element to the coalition are Arab and Gulf states, and US Secretary of State John Kerry headed to the region to rally allies. He visits Saudi Arabia on Thursday where he meets foreign ministers of six Gulf states plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

Gulf oil monarchies, fearing jihadist threats at their doorsteps, announced their opposition to IS in August, and await details of Washington's strategy, which Obama will announce Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia, whose highest religious authority branded IS Islam's "number one enemy," has committed $500 million to the UN refugee agency, according to the State Department. Analysts said Riyadh's role would consist primarily of political and logistical support.

The same goes for Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet. Kuwait, which has contributed $10 million in humanitarian assistance, could also lend use of its military facilities.

Qatar -- which furiously denies reports it has funded IS causes -- could play a vital role. Its Al-Udeid Air Base hosts Centcom, the US military command responsible for the Middle East and Central Asia.

Regional US ally Egypt said it will support Washington's efforts to repel the IS, but Cairo's involvement "must be under a UN mandate," an Egyptian foreign ministry official said.

The United Arab Emirates said it was prepared to join in a sustained effort to confront IS.