Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday offered his symbolic support to President Barack Obama as the United States gathers a coalition to ramp up its campaign against the Islamic State militant group.

“I would like to affirm that for Cambodia’s stance on [IS], we would like to participate [by offering] political will for cooperation in the fight against [IS] after the announcement [of the expanded campaign] by Obama,” Hun Sen told hundreds of government officials at the launch of the National Strategic Development Plan 2014-2018.

“We have no ability to participate by sending our forces to fight directly, but we have the heart to support the destruction of all terrorist groups, not only [IS],” he continued.

He added that Cambodia would do its best to prevent terrorists from using the Kingdom as a refuge or source of financing, and that it “continues to condemn the brutal murder of American and British journalists” by the group.