INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES UK 26 SEPT - ISIS: DENMARK JOINS US-LED COALITION AGAINST TERROR GROUP IN IRAQ

The Danish government has confirmed that it is set to join the US-led coalition to tackle Isis (now known as the Islamic State) in northern Iraq. Copenhagen is to send seven F-16 fighter jets to participate in air strikes against the group in Iraq but not Syria due to Baghdad's request for outside assistance against the terror organisation. Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said that her government has the majority parliamentary support for the deployment of four operational aircraft and three reserve jets including 250 pilots and support staff. "No one should be ducking in this case. Everyone should contribute," she said. A vote in the Danish Parliament is planned to take place but it is widely predicted that the vote will pass in Thorning-Schmidt's favour. No date has yet been set. The Dutch government has also announced the deployment of six F-16 fighter jets to conduct air strikes on IS positions in Iraq but not Syria. "The Netherlands will make six F-16s available for the first phase of the campaign, for one year," said Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher after an emergency meeting at The Hague. In addition to the fighter jets, up to 380 Dutch military personnel could be operational in Iraq with 130 of those being military instructors to support local Iraqi forces. LINK: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-denmark-joins-us-led-coalition-against-terror-group-iraq-1467392