Netherlands to join US-led air strikes against ISIS in Syria

THE HAGUE -- The Netherlands on Friday decided to join US-led airstrikes against targets of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant(ISIS) in Syria.

Since October 2014, the Netherlands has been sending F16 fighter jets to bomb ISIS targets in Iraq. But the coalition government has different views whether to extend its mission into Syria.

The extension of the mission was expected after the junior coalition partner, the PvdA (Labor Party), on Tuesday decided to not to halt such an operation.

"Only if we take away safe havens of ISIS in Iraq and Syria can we prevent attacks," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said here in a press conference.

In addition, the Dutch cabinet has agreed on a series of measures to solve the conflicts in Iraq and Syria through political and humanitarian means.

"We are convinced that only a consistent approach will help to bring back stability in Iraq and Syria," said Foreign Minister Bert Koenders.