The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a strict Texas law that will force all clinics to maintain high hospital standards, and will therefore likely shut down most abortion clinics in the state.

On Tuesday, the federal appeals court ruled that Texas can require abortion clinics to meet hospital-level operating standards. According to the plaintiffs in the case -- which consists of abortion clinics and doctors -- a 2013 state law unconstitutionally restricts the right to obtain an abortion. In addition, advocates for women's reproductive rights argue that the law will force 11 of the roughly 18 remaining abortion facilities in Texas to close down.

"If permitted to take effect, the impact will be devastating for women in Texas seeking access to abortion services," said Stephanie Toti, a lawyer with the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represented several abortion clinics in the case, reports The Wall Street Journal.

However, on Tuesday, the court said the plaintiffs failed to prove their case and lifted an injunction that was issued by a lower court to prevent the enforcement of key parts of the law.

In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the decision, saying the Texas law "both protects the unborn and ensures Texas women are not subjected to unsafe and unhealthy conditions."

On the other hand, Nancy Northup, the president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, issued a statement condemning the ruling, which she said will result in devastating effects for women in the state.

"Not since before Roe v. Wade has a law or court decision had the potential to devastate access to reproductive health care on such a sweeping scale," she said, according to The New York Times. "Once again, women across the state of Texas face the near total elimination of safe and legal options for ending a pregnancy, and the denial of their constitutional rights."

On behalf of the plaintiffs, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a request on Wednesday to put the anti-abortion laws on hold while their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is still pending, reports KHOU.