As part of US Presidnet Barack Obama’s strategy to combat terrorists of Takfiri group ISIL, Saudi Arabia has agreed to host training camps for “moderate” Syrian militants.

As part of US Presidnet Barack Obama’s strategy to combat terrorists of Takfiri group ISIL, Saudi Arabia has agreed to host training camps for “moderate” Syrian militants.

Obama announced he had authorized stepped-up US airstrikes in Iraq and for the first time would extend the aerial assault into Syria, where he also vowed to beef up support for “moderate” militants fighting the Syrian government.

US officials said a critical component of the plan to train and equip the Syrian insurgents, who have received only modest American backing so far and have failed to coalesce into a potent fighting force, was the Saudis' willingness to allow use of their territory for the US training effort.

"Now what we have is a commitment from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia ... to be a full partner with us in that effort, including by hosting that training programmed," a senior US official told reporters in a conference call.

The Saudi decision came to light after Obama spoke by phone earlier in the day with Saudi King Abdullah.

"Both leaders agreed that a stronger Syrian opposition is essential to confronting extremists like (ISIL) as well as the Assad regime, which has lost all legitimacy," the White House said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a Middle East mission to drum up support for a coalition against Islamic State, is due to fly from Amman to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

He will have talks there with senior officials from Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which comprises Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.