Denmark’s government will present proposals soon to expand its mission against Islamic State into Syria, including air strikes, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen’s office said on Friday.
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“It is a serious decision to send Danish men and women on a mission in the world’s hot spots”. “We must never five up the fight for peace and freedom”.
The initiative of the Danish government seems to be a response to the US’ calling on Denmark to step up military efforts against IS and Defense Minister Peter Christensen’s promise to US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter that the country would contribute to the fight against IS wherever needed.
If approved by parliament, F-16 fighters, C130J transport aircraft and 400 military personal, including special operations forces and support staff, would take part in the Syria campaign by the middle of the year.
Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen said the fight against IS is “one of the most fundamental challenges in our time”. “IS is under pressure and we must increase the pressure on them on all fronts”, the minister said in a statement.
Addressing a press conference in Baghdad, U.S. official Brett McGurk refused to put a timeline on when the group would be defeated or when Mosul and Raqqa, the main cities under its control in Iraq and Syria respectively, would be recaptured.
“It doesn’t mean that the Danish soldiers will be in direct offensive combat”.
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The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on activists inside Syria, said the FSA fighters crossed into Syria from Jordan to launch the attack.
