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Denmark to send troops to Syria
Christian Wenande
March 4th, 2016
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This article is more than 8 years old.
F-16 jets rested and ready to go
A majority of Parliament has approved sending Danish F-16 fighter jets, a transport aircraft and a team of special forces to fight the organisation Islamic State in Syria.
As of mid-2016, the total Danish military contribution will encompass about 400 soldiers, incuding pilots and support personnel. 60 of the 400 will be member of the two Danish special forces groups: the Hunter Corps (Jægerkorpset) and the Frogman Corps (Frømandskorpset).
“The government wishes to intensify the battle against the terror orgnisation IS. We need to fight IS, which kills innocent men, women and children, with targeted efforts and power,” said the prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
“It’s a serious decision to send Danish men and women on a mission in one of the world’s flash points and I appreciate that the government’s proposal enjoyed broad support from the parties in Parliament.”
Aside from the Venstre-led government, the broad majority that supported the proposal consisted of Dansk Folkeparti, Socialdemokraterne, Konservative and Radikale.
EARLIER STORY
The prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, wants to send Danish troops to fight the jihadist organisation Islamic State in Syria.
Rasmussen said he would today inform the foreign policy committee, Udenrigspolitisk Nævn, about a Danish contribution in Syria.
“The world is so small today that we can’t turn our backs on this,” Rasmussen said according to Metroxpress newspaper. “So Denmark must contribute. We already do and we will continue to do so.”
READ MORE: Defence Minister welcomes home F-16 squadron
Got some R & R
The contribution of Danish forces will most probably consist of F-16 fighter jets and special forces and become part of a battle that won’t end in the near future, according to experts.
It’s not the first time that Denmark has sent troops to fight IS. Danish F-16 jets returned home to Denmark for repairs and rest last October after taking part in the coalition’s bombing campaign against IS in Iraq.
Now they are just about ready to be deployed again.
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