Washington, Asharq Al-Awsat—US President Barack Obama praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts in fighting terrorism and extremist ideology during a meeting with the Kingdom’s Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Bin Abdulaziz on Friday.

Saudi Arabia’s interior minister met Obama and US Vice-President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday morning.

The meeting was attended by the Kingdom’s ambassador to Washington Adel Al-Jubeir and his counterpart Joseph W. Westphal.

The two sides discussed several regional issues, including the efforts of the US-led international coalition, of which Saudi Arabia is a major member, against radical Islamist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

During the meeting Obama set out his administration’s strategy against ISIS and other extremist militant groups. The two countries also reviewed the deteriorating situation in Yemen and Syria as well as discussing ways in which to maintain regional security and stability.

Obama praised Saudi Arabia’s significant contribution to the anti-ISIS coalition. The US president also said he appreciated the efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, in fighting Ebola in West Africa.

On Thursday, Prince Mohammed Bin Naif received the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman at his Washington residence. The two sides discussed issues of common interest.