Security Council condemns ‘heinous’ bomb attacks in Libya

The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned yesterday's deadly bomb attacks in al-Qubbah, Libya, claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known by its Arabic acronym, Da'esh.

According to reports, the Friday morning attack which came in three separate waves, killed at least 45 people and injured scores of others. It started when one bomber detonated his vehicle near a gas station and was followed by two car explosions near the home of Libya's Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Government's security headquarters.

In a statement to the press this morning, the 15-member Security Council expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of “this heinous act” and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

Council members stressed again that ISIL must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out. Perpetrators of these reprehensible acts of terrorism must be brought to justice, they emphasized.

Such “acts of barbarism” by ISIL do not intimidate Council members but rather stiffen their resolve, members emphasized as they pledged support to global and regional effort to counter ISIL, Ansar Al Sharia entities, and other groups associated with Al-Qaida. This resolve is already stated in Security Council resolutions 2170 (2014) and 2199 (2015), they noted.

All those responsible for such attacks must be held accountable, the Security Council stressed, as it urged all States, in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with Libya and all other relevant authorities.

Council members further recalled that ISIL is included on the Al-Qaida Sanctions List and is thus subject to the asset freeze and arms embargo, as stated in resolution 2161 (2014). Hence, any individual or entity that provides financial and material support to the group, including the provision of arms or recruits, is eligible to be subject to sanctions measures.

To that end, members underscored the need for full implementation of resolution 2199 (2015), adopted on February 12, to cut off ISIL's support networks.

Lastly, the Council reaffirmed the need to combat, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. All acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of motivation, members concluded.