Police patrol the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France on November 15, 2015. The United Nations Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a French resolution to use "all necessary measures" to fight the Islamic State terror group. The resolution allows nations to use military force against the group as long as it is in accordance with international and human rights laws. Photo by David Silpa/UPI |
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NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The United Nations Security Council on Friday unanimously voted to approve a resolution, introduced by France, to take "all necessary measures" to fight Islamic State terrorists.
The resolution, which is a direct result of last week's attacks in Paris, calls on nations to "take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of [the Islamic State]."
Specifically, the resolution opens the door for military force against the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front terror groups, but could also allow for the targeting of other extremist groups. Al-Nusra is the Syrian branch of al Qaeda.
The Security Council voted 15-0 in favor of the resolution, which included approval from Russia, which has been at odds with Western powers over the years regarding Syria's regime.
According to a report by The New York Times, Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin said the fight against terrorism should be "guided not by ambition but by shared values."
Russia introduced a similar resolution on Wednesday but it wasn't put to a Security Council vote, as Western governments said it was too broad in its definition of terrorism and permitted Syrian President Bashar Assad, a Moscow ally, to remain in power.
Russia and the United States have backed opposing factions in the Syrian Civil War in recent years, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington backing rebels.
Russia said, though, that it would continue to try and get its counterterrorism resolution to a Security Council vote.
Friday's resolution also calls on nations to eradicate terrorists' "safe havens" in Syria and Iraq -- nations that offer some locations where militants operate freely and without opposition.
In addition to military force, the resolution also calls for stemming the flow of militant fighters in Europe and a clamping down of finances that ultimately get funneled to terrorist groups.
