The UN Security Council holds its first-ever meeting of finance ministers Thursday to adopt a wide-ranging draft resolution aimed at ramping up sanctions against the "Islamic State" (ISIS) terrorist group and cutting off its revenue flows, AFP reports.
US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew will lead the 15-member council for the vote that comes amid a major diplomatic push to end the war in Syria, where ISIS jihadists control a large swathe of territory and have installed their de facto capital.
The draft resolution is expected to win unanimous backing from the council, including Russia, Syria's ally which is now in the third month of its air campaign in support of President Bashar Al-Assad.