Saudi Arabia, Kuwait to abide by UN blacklisting
18 Aug 2014 12:36 AM GMT
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait agreed to comply with a United Nations resolution aimed at stopping financing for Islamist militant groups in Syria and Iraq after four of their nationals were named among a group blacklisted by the body.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution intended to weaken the Islamic State — an al-Qaida splinter group that has seized swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate — and al-Qaida's Syrian wing, Nusra Front.
Western officials believe that wealthy Gulf Arabs have been a main source of funding for Sunni Islamist militants fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia is a main backer of the rebellion against Assad, a member of the Alawite sect of Shia Islam and an ally of Shiae Iran, it says it is careful to direct state support to moderate groups.Â
The Islamic State has long been blacklisted by the Security Council, while Nusra Front was added this year. Both groups are designated under the UN al-Qaida sanctions regime.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution intended to weaken the Islamic State — an al-Qaida splinter group that has seized swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate — and al-Qaida's Syrian wing, Nusra Front.
Western officials believe that wealthy Gulf Arabs have been a main source of funding for Sunni Islamist militants fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia is a main backer of the rebellion against Assad, a member of the Alawite sect of Shia Islam and an ally of Shiae Iran, it says it is careful to direct state support to moderate groups.Â
The Islamic State has long been blacklisted by the Security Council, while Nusra Front was added this year. Both groups are designated under the UN al-Qaida sanctions regime.
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