Decision on Dutch military involvement in Syria ready in weeks

By Janene Pieters on December 4, 2015 - 12:01
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Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (Photo: Rijksoverheid.nl/Wikimedia Commons)Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (Photo: Rijksoverheid.nl/Wikimedia Commons)

The Dutch government will make a decision on whether or not the Netherlands will take part in the bombardment of terrorist organization Islamic State in Syria in the "coming weeks", Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis Plasschaert said just before the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday morning, NRC reports.

Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs added that the government is facing a "very responsible" decision, which is why it will take some time.

Koenders announced in the parliamentary debate on Thursday that the United States officially asked the Netherlands to "intensify" the fight against  ISIS and that the government is now seriously considering extending the Dutch attacks on the terrorist organization to Syria. Up until now the Dutch F-16's only performed air raids in Iraq.

Koenders did not elaborate on the American's request, but is known that they've wanted the Dutch fighter jets to help attack Syria for some time.

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