Security Council Press Statement on Bomb Attack in al-Qubbah, Libya

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Liu Jieyi (China):

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the bomb attack in al-Qubbah in Libya on 20 February, claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous act and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

The members of the Security Council stressed again that ISIL must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out.  The members of the Council further emphasized that such continued acts of barbarism perpetrated by ISIL do not intimidate them but rather stiffen their resolve that there has to be a common effort amongst Governments and institutions, including those in the region most affected, to counter ISIL, Ansar Al Sharia entities, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, as the Council resolved in United Nations Security Council resolutions 2170 (2014) and 2199 (2015).

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice.  The members of the Security Council stressed that those responsible for these attacks shall be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with Libya and all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council further recalled that ISIL is included on the Al-Qaida Sanctions List and is thus subject to the asset freeze and arms embargo in resolution 2161 (2014) and further recalls that any individual or entity that provides financial or material support to the group, including the provision of arms or recruits, is eligible to be added to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List and subject to sanctions measures.  The members of the Security Council underscored the need for full implementation of resolution 2199 (2015), adopted on 12 February, to cut off ISIL’s support networks.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.