Obama to host UN Security Council session

President Barack Obama will lead a UN Security Council session on the threat of foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria on September 24.

Initially scheduled for the day after, the meeting will see the council debate a resolution to address the growing problem of foreign fighters.

It will coincide with the annual United Nations General Assembly.

"The date has changed," a US official said on condition of anonymity.

"The resolution will impose new binding obligations on countries to take action against foreign fighters, to prevent the facilitation of travel by foreign fighters and stop suspects."

Initial reaction to the proposed resolution had been positive, and there were "no fundamental objections" from council members, the official added.

A senior US intelligence official estimated last week that more than 12,000 foreign fighters had travelled to Syria to battle President Bashar al-Assad's regime, including more than 1,000 Europeans and more than 100 Americans.

It will be the second time Obama chairs a meeting of the top world body. In 2009, he presided over a meeting on nuclear non-proliferation.

The United States currently holds the rotating presidency of the 15-member council.