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U.N. adopts resolution to disrupt Islamic State funds

 
Published Dec. 18, 2015

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday aimed at disrupting revenue that the Islamic State extremist group gets from oil and antiquities sales, ransom payments and other criminal activities — a goal that finance ministers agree will be challenging.

The Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, is already subject to U.N. sanctions under resolutions dealing with al-Qaida. The resolution, sponsored by the United States and Russia, elevates ISIS to the same level as al-Qaida, reflecting its growing threat and split from the terror network behind the 9/11 attacks.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who chaired the meeting, called ISIS "a challenging financial target" because unlike other "terror groups" like al-Qaida it gets a relatively small share of its funding from donors abroad.

ISIS controls a large swath of Syria and Iraq, including oil and gas fields, though bombing campaigns by the U.S.-led coalition and ground forces have enabled Iraq to regain some territory.

France's Finance Minister Michel Sapin told the council that no country is safe from ISIS attacks.

While foreign ministers from the 15 council nations will be meeting in New York today to discuss a political solution to the Syrian civil war, he said every country has to play a part in stemming the flow of money to extremist groups which are fueling conflicts.