By Reissa Su | November 19, 2014 10:11 PM EST
As the conflict in the Middle East continues, the United Nations Security Council has warned that militant group Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria has enough weapons and artillery to keep on fighting for two
years. The council's report revealed the group has sufficient supplies
of ammunition and vehicles.
REUTERS/Stringer
Fighters from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) hold their weapons as they stand on confiscated cigarettes before setting them on fire in the city of Raqqa April 2, 2014.
Fighters from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) hold their weapons as they stand on confiscated cigarettes before setting them on fire in the city of Raqqa April 2, 2014.
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The size and capacity of ISIS weaponry enables the militants to move
at such a wide range with greater mobility despite its limited defences
against low-flying aircraft. Even if U.S.-led coalition forces will
manage to destroy ISIS vehicles and heavier weapons, they cannot control
the significant implications of the group's large volume of small arms,
according to the UN report.
ISIS's current stock of weapons will allow the group to keep fighting for about six months to two years which makes the group not only the most funded but also the best armed, the UN Security Council finds. The report suggested the implementation of new measures to block the militant group's access to funds and weapons. Based on the UN's assessment, ISIS has in its possession T-55 and T-72 tanks, Humvees manufactured in the U.S., machine guns, short-range anti-aircraft artillery and shoulder-mounted rockets seized from the military armory of Iraqi and Syrian forces.
ISIS's current stock of weapons will allow the group to keep fighting for about six months to two years which makes the group not only the most funded but also the best armed, the UN Security Council finds. The report suggested the implementation of new measures to block the militant group's access to funds and weapons. Based on the UN's assessment, ISIS has in its possession T-55 and T-72 tanks, Humvees manufactured in the U.S., machine guns, short-range anti-aircraft artillery and shoulder-mounted rockets seized from the military armory of Iraqi and Syrian forces.
The UN report recommends designing new sanctions to disrupt the flow
of money into ISIS, including the call for states near ISIS-controlled
territory to seize oil tanker vehicles and their contents when going in
or out of their borders. Although the report does not discount the idea
of ISIS having other sources of funds, the UN hopes that the new
measures may raise the stakes for ISIS contacts from bringing the
group's oil to the market.
To stop ISIS from acquiring more weapons, the report recommends the UN to require that no aircraft from territories held by ISIS should be allowed to land on member states. Flights to ISIS-controlled territory should be prohibited except for aircraft used in delivering humanitarian aid.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed to send troops to fight ISIS on the ground if the group acquires nuclear weapons despite his unwavering stand to not deploy combat forces months ago. He told ABC reporters at a news conference in Brisbane, Australia, that he would change his mind and deploy ground troops if the ISIS will take possession of nuclear weapons. Previous reports have indicated that officials were not aware of ISIS currently holding a nuclear weapon.
To stop ISIS from acquiring more weapons, the report recommends the UN to require that no aircraft from territories held by ISIS should be allowed to land on member states. Flights to ISIS-controlled territory should be prohibited except for aircraft used in delivering humanitarian aid.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed to send troops to fight ISIS on the ground if the group acquires nuclear weapons despite his unwavering stand to not deploy combat forces months ago. He told ABC reporters at a news conference in Brisbane, Australia, that he would change his mind and deploy ground troops if the ISIS will take possession of nuclear weapons. Previous reports have indicated that officials were not aware of ISIS currently holding a nuclear weapon.
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