UNITED NATIONS, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - The UN Security Council's members on unanimously adopted Press Statement, condemning the Islamic State (IS) attacks in Iraq and demanding
According to the statement issued on Friday, the UN Security Council condemns " the vicious string of suicide, vehicle-borne, and other attacks in Baghdad and surrounding provinces over the past several days, perpetrated by the terrorist organization operating under the name Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant."
Calling for accountability, the Security Council on Friday stressed the need to bring to justice
"those who have committed or are otherwise responsible for violations of international humanitarian law or violations or abuses of human rights in Iraq." The Security Council noted that some of the above-mentioned acts of the IS militants may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Amid increasing aerial surveillance and bombing strikes over Iraq, on Friday the members of the Security Council have called on the international community "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 IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June 2014, the group extended its attacks to northern and western Iraq, declaring a caliphate on the territories over which it had control.
Earlier this week Iraqi authorities announced that the Iraqi forces have started an operation to combat IS militants near the city of Tikrit, northwest of the capital Baghdad.
