On US decision of labelling ISIS attacks as 'genocide'

The Obama administration is reportedly nearing a decision on whether to use the term "genocide" to classify the campaign of ethnic cleansing ISIS perpetrated against the minority groups in Iraq and Syria, which could have major implications for US foreign policy in the Middle East.

This week, Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution that assigns the "genocide" designation to ISIS' atrocities, according to The Associated Press.

But the Obama administration is still awaiting a legal review and hasn't yet made an official determination on using the word, which carries a certain power as an official designation.

A 1948 treaty, signed by the US and 147 other nations, declares genocide a crime under international law and states that countries need to work together "to liberate mankind from this odious scourge."