(MENAFN- Asia Times) (From Reuters)
All able states should join the fight against Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq and redouble efforts to prevent further attacks by the militant group the United NationsSecurity Council has declared in a unanimous vote.
The 15-member council adopted a resolution Friday that was drafted by France after a series of deadly attacks in Paris killed 130 people and were claimed by IS.
'The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant constitutes a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security' said the resolution.
IS used the chaos of Syria's nearly five-year civil war to seize territory in Syria and Iraq where a US-led coalition has been bombing the militants for more than a year while Russia began air strikes in Syria in September.
The group recently claimed responsibility for downing a Russian passenger plane in Egypt killing all 224 people on board and attacks in Lebanon Turkey and Tunisia.
The council resolution 'calls upon member states that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures … on the territory under the control of IS.'
It also urges states to intensify efforts to stem the flow of foreigners looking to fight with IS in Iraq and Syria and to prevent and suppress financing of terrorism.
'Welcome to everybody who finally woke up and joined the club of combating terrorists' Syria's UN ambassador Bashar Ja'afari told reporters before the vote on the French-drafted resolution.
The British prime minister David Cameron who is seeking to extend Britain's air strikes against IS into Syria called the vote on the French-drafted text an 'important moment'.
'The world has united against IS. The international community has come together and has resolved to defeat this evil which threatens people of every country and every religion' he said.
'The UN security council has unanimously backed action against this evil death cult in both Syria and Iraq Today's vote shows beyond doubt the breadth of international support for doing more in Syria and for decisive action to eradicate IS.'
On Wednesday Syrian ally Russia revived its push for UN approval of international military campaigns combating IS by circulating a slightly updated version of a draft resolution it initially submitted on September 30.
That draft urged countries to coordinate military activities with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government and has been dismissed by veto-power Britain and other members.
Russia which views Syria as its closest Middle East ally has been at odds with western powers over the future of Assad. Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Friday that Moscow would still press ahead with its text.
Meanwhile Russia said Britain should cooperate in any air strikes it carries out in Syria.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's remarks in an interview broadcast on Saturday underline Moscow's growing assertiveness in the region.
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