Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi says Arab leaders have agreed in principle to create a joint military force.
Sisi said on March 29 that the force was needed because of the "great challenges facing our Arab nation and threatening its capabilities."
Arab representatives will meet over the next month to hammer out the specifics, according to the resolution adopted by leaders during an Arab League summit in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said ahead of the summit that the force would counter Islamic State militants and rebels in Libya and Yemen.
The decision came after Saudi Arabia and Sunni Arab allies launched air strikes on Huthi rebels in Yemen.
Arabi said air strikes will continue until the Shi'ite rebels "withdraw and surrender their weapons."