On November 17, 2016, the United Nations Security Council issued a resolution renewing the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism in regards to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The Council also reiterated its decision that Syria should not be allowed to “use, develop produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or, transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to other States or non-State actors.” News reports indicate that both the Syrian government and the Islamic State have used chemical weapons in combat and on civilians. The Mechanism was previously established by a previous resolution on August 7, 2015.