UN unanimously approves fight against 'IS'

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) approved on Friday a French-drafted resolution that authorized countries "to combat by all means" the "Islamic State" militant group, which "constitutes a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security."

The resolution urges UN member states "that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures" against the militant group in order "to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria."

While the resolution was not drafted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which is the sole way the UN is able to authorize military action, it does call on member states "to intensify their efforts to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters in Iraq and Syria and suppress the financing on terrorism."

French officials said the resolution will provide key international support in the war on terrorism.

The fight after Paris

The UNSC's decision to approve the resolution comes a week after militants affiliated with the "Islamic State" carried out attacks throughout Paris that left at least 130 people dead.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the adoption of the French-sponsored resolution illustrated nations' determination to confront the militant group and other terrorist organizations.

"It is now important for all countries to commit themselves in a concrete manner to this fight, either through military action, the search for political solutions, or the battle against terrorist financing," Fabius said in a statement.

The resolution also condemned attacks carried out by the militant group and other terrorist organizations in France, Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, where a Russian passenger flight was downed by a bomb in October, according to the Kremlin. The attack was claimed by the "Islamic State."

The move marks the 14th terrorism-related resolution to be approved by the UNSC since 1999.

ls/bw (AP, AFP, dpa)