An anti-terrorism resolution introduced by President Obama was approved by the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday afternoon, part of the president's ongoing effort to rally global support behind the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and other terrorist groups.
The resolution, which was passed unanimously by the 15-member council, commits nations to take action to counter violent extremism, and requires world leaders to work together to prevent the equipping, transport or financing of terrorist groups.
“This resolution will strengthen cooperation between nations,” Obama said. “And it makes clear that respecting human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law is not optional—it’s an essential part of counterterrorism efforts.”
Obama said U.S. intelligence agencies estimate that over 15,000 foreign fighters from more than 80 nations have flooded into Syria in recent years.
The U.S. and coalition forces continued airstrikes against ISIS Wednesday in Syria, the Pentagon said, hitting 12 "modular oil refineries" that ISIS has profited from. Earlier Wednesday, five new U.S.-led airstrikes hit ISIS targets, striking two armed vehicles and a weapons cache, troop positions and vehicles.
The chairmanship of the 15-member panel rotates alphabetically between members, for one month each.
As in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) Wednesday morning, Obama stressed that the fight against terrorism was not amenable to a military solution alone, and called for a renewed effort to address the conditions that have allowed extremism to flourish, as well as to counter extremist propaganda.
“Potential recruits must hear the words of former terrorist fighters who have seen the truth: That groups like ISIL betray Islam by killing innocent men women and children,” he said, using an alternative acronym for the terror group.
And the fight will require much more than talk, Obama said.
“Resolutions alone will not be enough,” he said. “Good intentions will not stop a single terrorist attack. The words spoken here today must be matched and translated into action, into deeds.”
In his speech to the UNGA on Wednesday morning, Obama was at pains to present the campaign as a cooperative effort. “Already, over 40 nations have offered to join this coalition,” he said. “Today, I ask the world to join in this effort.”