The Netherlands sends a military mission to fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq, the government decided on Wednesday during an additional meeting of ministers in The Hague.

"The Dutch contribution to the international mission is aimed at breaking the military strength and advance of ISIS," the cabinet wrote in a letter to the parliament.

The Netherlands will deploy six F-16 fighter aircraft that can carry out military actions in Iraq. The aircraft will be located at a site to be determined outside Iraq, probably Jordan, Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told a press conference.

The F-16s will be deployed to destroy camps, command posts and other targets of ISIS with precision weapons. They can also assist Kurdish and Iraqi fighters on the ground by providing air support.

In addition, the Netherlands will contribute to train the Iraqi army and Kurdish forces. A total of up to 380 Dutch soldiers are to be stationed in Iraq, 250 for the management of the F-16s and 130 trainers. Also, two reserve aircraft will be supplied. The first phase of the mission will, according to Hennis-Plasschaert, cost around 150 million euros (191 millioni U.S. dollars).

"The rapid rise of ISIS and its affiliated organizations pose a direct threat to the region and causes instability on the borders of Europe, with potentially far-reaching implications for our own security," the letter of the Dutch government continued.

In Syria, the mission is limited to humanitarian and diplomatic help because for military action a mandate is needed under international law in the form of a UN resolution. In Iraq, this is not necessary since that country has requested for military support itself.

The Dutch effort is part of the strategy of a large group of countries, including countries in the region, at the initiative of the United States. The government now clarified the Dutch contribution in view of the planning process in the United States.

Hennis argued that the Dutch contribution can be operational within one week. The first phase will last six to 12 months, depending on the number of participating countries, the government wrote based on an estimate of the United States.

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