Belgium ready to join U.S.-led coalition with F-16 fighters to combat Islamic State in Iraq 2709141

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Defence & Security News - Belgium

 
 
Saturday, September 27, 2014 08:06 AM
 
Belgium ready to join U.S.-led coalition with F-16 fighters to combat Islamic State in Iraq.
Belgium's plan to send six fighter jets to join a U.S.-led coalition to combat Islamic State militants in Iraq won parliamentary approval on Friday, September 26, 2014. Even before the vote took place, the six F-16s took off from a Belgian air base headed for Araxos in Greece, a staging post on their way to Jordan, where they will be based from Saturday.
     
Belgium's plan to send six fighter jets to join a U.S.-led coalition to combat Islamic State militants in Iraq won parliamentary approval on Friday, September 26, 2014. Even before the vote took place, the six F-16s took off from a Belgian air base headed for Araxos in Greece, a staging post on their way to Jordan, where they will be based from Saturday.
Belgian Air Force F-16 fighter
     

Belgium has also sent two military transport planes, a C-130 and an Embraer, to take 120 pilots and support staff along with supplies needed for the mission.

Parliament voted 114-2 in favor of sending the Belgian contingent, initially for a period of one month which could be extended.

The deployment follows a formal request from Washington earlier in the week, but will be limited to Iraq.

Belgium's F-16s will be based in Jordan, one of the Arab nations that has joined the coalition, and are to be accompanied by around 120 personnel, the defence ministry said.

Now, Great Britain, Belgium and Denmark also agreed to join the list of more than 50 countries that have agreed to support the fight against IS (Islamic State) militants.

The Dutch government has also announced the deployment of six F-16 fighters with 250 pilots and support staff. The Dutch also will send about 130 military trainers to Iraq to support Iraqi and Kurdish fighters battling the Islamic State group on the ground.