UN Security Council declares war on ISIS: "All necessary measures" approved in fight against jihadists

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a French resolution on Friday allowing "all necessary measures" to be taken in the fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS), seven days after the Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed, reports the Patria News Agency.

The resolution "calls on all states to take all necessary measures in accordance with international law, and in particular the UN Charter, on the territory in Iraq and Syria controlled by IS".

Countries are urged to "redouble their efforts and coordinate their initiatives to prevent and thwart terrorist attacks" by IS, as well as other extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda.

The resolution was voted on during a hostage crisis at a hotel in Bamako in which 27 people were killed, according to Malian authorities. A jihadist group linked to Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for that attack.

The resolution calls on states to "intensify efforts" to prevent their citizens from joining IS, and also envisages the imposition of new UN sanctions against the group's leaders and members and their supporters.