Dutch F-16s to fly 600 hours monthly in ISIS fight

The six dutch F-16 fighter aircraft that will bombard targets of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, will fly a total of 600 hours per month during the mission.

In a letter, Minister Frans Timmermans of Foreign Affairs and Minister Jeanine Hennis Plasschaert of Defense answered 225 questions set by Parliament Members regarding the mission in Iraq. This is in preparation for a debate that will be held on Thursday.

The ministers wrote that an agreement was reached with the host country about the status of Dutch military personnel and civilian employees who will work there.

Last week the Cabinet said that the F-16's and an exploration team will possibly be stationed in Jordan. The Netherlands will be working with Belgium, Denmark and the United States, who have also committed F-16's. "The joint deployment of F-16's from different countries on the same base strengthens cooperation." the ministers wrote. Belgian F-16's carried out exploration flights in the vicinity of Baghdad for the first time on Wednesday. They are operating out of Jordan.