The Netherlands is to become the latest European country to join U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS).
Following a cabinet decision on Friday, Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaer said the action would ensure "more progress" against ISIS, according to AP.
The government is to outline its decision in parliament in the coming days. On Tuesday, the country's Labour party, a junior partner in the governing coalition, announced its support for the strikes, meaning that the proposal should have a parliamentary majority.
In common with the U.K., which voted to launch airstrikes in Syria in December, the Dutch are already hitting ISIS targets in Iraq, where six F-16 jets have been carrying out missions since 2014.
France has been bombing ISIS in Syria since September.
In a separate development on Friday, the U.N. said it would press ahead with peace talks in Syria despite a boycott by some opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
The main opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has refused to attend, insisting it wanted an end to airstrikes and sieges of towns before talks can start. The boycott defies Washington, which has urged HNC to take up the "historic opportunity" for the talks, without preconditions.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Josh is a staff writer covering Europe, including politics, policy, immigration and more.
