Belgium Decides to Send Jets to Syria After US-Led Coalition's Request

Belgium has decided to extend the mandate of its aerial campaign against terrorists and send its F-16 fighter jets to Syria starting July 1 on request of the US-led international coalition, Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jose de Pierpont told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, media reports emerged claiming the Belgian Air Force would conduct airstrikes on positions of Daesh terrorist group in Syria from July 1, using six F-16 fighter jets.

"Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders and Minister of Defence Steven Vandeput detailed today the decision to extend the mandate of the Belgian F-16s in Syria, in rotation with the Dutch aircrafts as of July 1st 2016. This decision responds to a request from the international coalition to intensify our support in the fight against Daesh," the spokesman said.

Belgium, as a part of the US-led coalition, has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh militants in Iraq since the summer of 2014.

In early March, Belgian media reported that Washington has formally requested Belgium on the participation in the air strikes on the positions of Daesh in Syria.