'ISIL must be defeated', declares Security Council, urging 'common effort' to halt militants' offensive
The Security Council has urged the world to step up measures to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after the terrorist group carried out a spate of brutal attacks in Baghdad and Anbar over the past few days, calling for “a common effort” among governments and institutions to “stamp out” the violence and intolerance ISIL espouses.
“ISIL must be defeated,” the members of the Council declared in a press statement issued late yesterday evening, which condemned the vicious string of suicide, vehicle-borne, and other attacks perpetrated by ISISL terrorist in Baghdad and surrounding provinces over the past several days, “which have killed scores of Iraqis, including an elected Member of Parliament from Basrah Province and the Police Chief of Anbar Province.”
Expressing “deep outrage” about all Iraqis as well as nationals of other States killed, kidnapped, raped, or tortured by ISIL, as well as its child recruitment, the Council called for the perpetrators to justice, and for the international community, “in accordance with international law, to further strengthen and expand support for the Government of Iraq, including Iraqi Security Forces, in the fight against ISIL and associated armed groups.”
The Council's call for enhanced international support for Iraq's efforts to counter ISIL's latest bloody offensive comes as media reports describe violent attacks in Iraq's western Anbar Province and a wave of deadly car bombings that ripped through Baghdad late last week, reportedly killing up to 50 people.
“There has to be a common effort amongst governments and institutions, including those in the region most affected, to counter ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida,” in line with relevant UN resolutions, said the Council, emphasizing through its statement that “the intolerance, violence and hatred ISIL espouses must be stamped out,”