MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Islamic State (IS) militant group, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), presents a terrorist threat not only to Iraq but to the world community as a whole, a Monday statement from the International Conference on Peace and Security in Iraq says.
"The conference participants asserted that Daech (ISIL) is a threat not only to Iraq but also to the entire international community. They condemned the crimes and acts of mass violence that Daech (ISIL) commits against civilians, including the most vulnerable minorities, which may amount to crimes against humanity. They agreed to cooperate and do everything to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice," the statement reads.
"All participants underscored the urgent need to remove Daech (ISIL) from the regions in which it has established itself in Iraq. To that end, they committed to supporting the new Iraqi Government in its fight against Daech (ISIL), by any means necessary, including appropriate military assistance, in line with the needs expressed by the Iraqi authorities, in accordance with international law and without jeopardizing civilian security," the statement adds.
The International Conference on Peace and Security in Iraq was called in Paris by French President Francois Hollande in view of the growing IS threat in the Middle East. The conference was attended by the foreign ministers of more than 20 countries, including Russia, as well as EU, UN and Arab League representatives.
The IS has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012 and started launching attacks in northern and western Iraq in June, 2014. IS militants have seized vast areas in both countries and have proclaimed an Islamic caliphate on all the territories under its control.
On September 10, US President Barack Obama unveiled his strategy for defeating the IS that includes authorizing US airstrikes against the group in Syria and continuing airstrikes in Iraq.
