They discussed ways of defeating the Islamist State militant group that is causing havoc in Syria and Iraq.

Leaders from some 20 nations yesterday, September 15, 2014  during a conference in Paris,  France charted ways of consolidating the coalition in the ongoing war against Islamist State Militants who have seized vast areas in Iraq  and Syria since the militants launched offensives in the two countries in June 2014, AFP reported.

The Conference attended among others by the French President, François Hollande, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, Iraqi President Fuad Masum and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov focused on defining the specific role each nation will play in the fight against the militant groups. Ten Arab states, including Saudi Arabia – are among the countries backing the coalition.

French President François Hollande while opening the conference declared that there was no time to lose in confronting the jihadist threat, AFP said. U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry who toured Arab countries in the Middle East to garner support for the coalition against the jihadists before attending the Paris Summit, said all bases were covered in every single aspect of President Barack Obama’s strategy against the jihadists. “What is needed to be done in order to accomplish our goal, has been offered by one country or multiple countries, and all bases are covered," Kerry reportedly said.

The Paris Conference came just days after the Islamist group beheaded a British aid worker, David Haines. President Hollande said the heinous killing of Haines was another reason why a global coalition was needed. US President Barack Obama offered his support for Britain, which he said was an "ally in grief" after two American journalists were also recently beheaded by the jihadists.