UN Security Council adopts resolution to cut off Islamic State funding

Photo taken on Dec. 17, 2015 shows the UN Security Council unanimously adopting a resolution to cut off funds for the Islamic State the extremist group, in a firmer move by the international community to fight terrorism, in UN headquarters in New York. [Photo/Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to cut off funds for the Islamic State the extremist group, in a firmer move by the international community to fight terrorism.

Measures such as asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo will be taken against the Islamic State, also known as the ISIL and Daesh that controls large swaths of Syria and Iraq, including oil and gas fields, according to the resolution.

The resolution was adopted by the 15-nation UN body at an open meeting chaired by US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, whose country holds the rotating council presidency for December.

The resolution decided to "freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of these individual groups, undertaking and entities, including funds derived from property owned or controlled directly or indirectly, by them or by persons acting on their behalf or at their direction, and ensure that neither these nor other funds, financial assets or economic resources are made available, directly or indirectly for such persons' benefit, by their nationals or by persons within their territory."

The Security Council decided to "prevent the direct or indirect supply, or transfer to these individuals, groups, undertakings and entities from their territories or by their nationals outside their territories, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related material of all types including weapons and ammunitions, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts ...and technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities."

The resolution noted that ISIL is a splinter group of Al-Qaida and said that "terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all States and international and regional organizations to impede, impair, and incapacitate the terrorist threat."

The resolution also recognized that terrorism poses a threat to international peace and security and that countering this threat requires concerted efforts on national, regional and international levels on the basis of respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

The Security Council reaffirmed that "terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality or civilization," the resolution said.