Dutch Labour Backs Anti-Daesh Campaign in Syria

The Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) supports extending the Netherland's campaign against the Daesh militant group, according to a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) said Tuesday it backed extending the country’s campaign against the Islamic State (ISIL), also known as Daesh, jihadist group into Syria, giving its senior coalition partner a majority in parliament.

The Dutch legislature has to date committed 380 troops to the anti-Daesh operation in Iraq, 250 of whom manage four F-16 fighters and 130 train local forces.

"Our group sees opportunities to meet the request [of our allies and the appeal of the United Nations]," PvdA, junior coalition partner of the ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), said in a statement.

PvdA stressed the need to offer aid to the civilian population in Syria, in addition to targeting the terrorist group there.

The Netherlands is part of a 60-nation anti-Daesh coalition, led by the United States. France, whose capital experienced the deadliest terrorist attacks claimed by IS last November, issued a call to EU member states to expand their anti-IS mission to include Syria.