The U.N. Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage and warning ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other combatants that such attacks may constitute war crimes.
The resolution approved Friday expands previous measures which were limited to the illicit trafficking in looted cultural items to fund terrorism and focused primarily on Iraq and Syria where ISIS extremists have destroyed ancient sites including Palmyra.
The newly adopted measure targets not only ISIS, al-Qaeda and its affiliates but all parties to conflicts.
It urges prosecution of those responsible for attacks against historic monuments and sites and buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes as well as those who carry out illegal excavations, loot and traffic in stolen goods