Dutch F-16 fighter jets arrive in Jordan to take part in the U.S.-led military airstrikes against ISIL

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Five Dutch F-16 fighter jets has arrived in Jordan to take part in the U.S.-led military airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS), the defence minister said Friday.

The Dutch aircraft will initially support Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told Parliament.

The Dutch F-16s will be used to strike IS targets in Iraq and Syria, he said, adding the operation will be under the command of Qatar.

On Sept. 24, the Dutch government decided to send up to eight F-16s and 250 support personnel to join the military mission.

The White House on Friday welcomed Dutch participation in the airstrikes on the Islamic extremists.

So far, five Arab nations — Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain — have joined the U.S.-led coalition to fight the IS. France and Britain have assisted in the bombing campaign in Iraq, yet they have offered no troops.