"We must thank the Russian government for submitting a draft resolution on preventing the ISIL terrorist organization’s funding to the UN Security Council, which was adopted unanimously," the ambassador said at an academic conference on the IS terrorist group in Moscow.
The Security Council’s resolution, initiated by Russia, was adopted on February 12, 2015. The document underlines the obligations of member states to take steps to prevent the ISIL from benefiting from trade in oil, antiquities and hostages, and from receiving donations.
Mohsin stressed that in its fight against terrorism his government “is counting on the support of the Iraqi Army in terms of weapons, air strikes against ISIL targets, training of military personnel and logistics, as well as on cutting off the terrorists’ financing”.
The ISIL is considered to be the wealthiest terrorist group on record. It allegedly uses a combination of black-market oil sales, extortion and the sophisticated use of social media to generate revenue streams. The terrorist group pulls in about $1 million a day, according to the US Treasury.
Earlier this month the United Nations started an investigation into claims that the ISIL may be gaining financial benefits by trafficking the body parts of slain civilians.
The ISIL controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, but also operates affiliates in Eastern Libya, the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, and other areas of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. A US-led coalition comprising of more than 60 countries is conducting air strikes against the rebel group.
