The United Nations Security Council in a session chaired President Barack Obama unanimously approved on Wednesday a binding resolution on stemming the flow of foreign militants to Iraq and Syria.
The resolution, which Obama described as “historic,” requires all states to adopt laws that would make it a serious crime for their nationals to join militant groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate.
The resolution, which falls under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, states that “nations must prevent the movement of terrorist or terrorist groups through their territory and ensure that domestic laws allow for prosecution of those who attempt to do so,” Obama said.
About 15,000 foreign fighters from 80 countries have joined the ranks of militants in Syria, according to U.S. intelligence estimates.
“Network of death”
Obama, addressing the U.N. General Assembly earlier Wednesday, vowed he would build a coalition to dismantle the “network of death” represented in ISIS.
Obama, who is spearheading the military campaign against the militants in both Iraq and Syria, told world leaders that the “only language understood by killers like this is the language of force.”
“The United States of America will work with a broad coalition to dismantle this network of death,” Obama said. “Today I ask the world to join in this effort.”
The U.S. has been joined by a coalition of five Arab nations – Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar – in its fight against the militant group which is in control of large stretches of territory in Syria and Iraq.
Obama warned those who have joined ISIS to “leave the battlefield while they can.”
“Collective strategy”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, a key U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS, called for a collective strategy to defeat militants who threaten global security.
“The terrorists and criminals targeting Syria, Iraq and other countries today are extreme reflections of a great global threat,” Abdullah told the 193-member U.N. General Assembly in New York.
“Our international community needs a collective strategy to contain and defeat these groups. My country is at the forefront of this effort.”
Jordan is one of five Arab countries to have taken part in the U.S.-led air strikes against ISIS.
Shortly before Abdullah’s speech, two U.S. defense officials said Jordanian planes on Wednesday bombed ISIS on the second day of a U.S.-led air campaign, Agence France Presse reported.
