In Saudi visit, Obama works to calm gulf tensions with US

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Obama strained to ease tensions with Persian Gulf allies Thursday, pledging U.S. help in confronting Iran and other security threats.

Obama said gulf leaders attending the regional summit had agreed to step up the campaign against the Islamic State group, but did not lay out specifics.

Obama later arrived in London for a three-day visit that will include dining with the royal family and talks with Prime Minister David Cameron.

Obama came to the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting not only to urge its members to do more to tackle thorny security challenges but also to offer his own reassurance.

“Right now in Baghdad, there’s some big challenges,” Obama said.

[...] that’s settled, I think it’s important for us to make sure that any additional stabilization dollars that we put in are going to be effectively spent.