Danish military mission in Iraq gets green light
The Local Denmark - [email protected]
Published: 27 Aug, 2014 CET.
Updated: Wed 27 Aug 2014 21:47 CET
The use of a Hercules aircraft and up to 55 military personnel to transport weapons and other military supplies to Iraq has received parliament's approval.
As expected, parliament on Wednesday approved Denmark's military contribution to the international campaign against jihadist militants in northern Iraq. A Hercules C-130J military aircraft carrier will be accompanied by up to 55 individuals, including a logistics team and security personnel. The Danish mission will deliver weapons, ammunition and other military goods to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State, the terrorist organisation previously known as Isis. “I’m pleased with the broad political support for Denmark’s contribution against Isis in Iraq. Isis is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – threats currently faced by the international community. Our contribution to the ongoing operation will obviously not eliminate Isis but will be used to help the Iraqis to defend Isis’s advances themselves,” Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard said. According to Air Tactical Command (Flyvertaktisk Kommando), the aircraft will head to Iraq on Thursday. "The plan is to leave [on Thursday] morning. The personnel is ready. They were of course notified in advance and are ready to go," spokesman Lars Skjoldan told Politiken. The Hercules C-130J will depart from Aalborg Air Base. The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste) has determined that the Danish mission faces a “high” chance of being fired upon by militants in northern Iraq. Lidegaard added that Denmark will also contribute humanitarian aid, but the United Nations has previously rejected the use of military aircraft for the transport of emergency aid.
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As expected, parliament on Wednesday approved Denmark's military contribution to the international campaign against jihadist militants in northern Iraq.
A Hercules C-130J military aircraft carrier will be accompanied by up to 55 individuals, including a logistics team and security personnel. The Danish mission will deliver weapons, ammunition and other military goods to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State, the terrorist organisation previously known as Isis.
“I’m pleased with the broad political support for Denmark’s contribution against Isis in Iraq. Isis is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – threats currently faced by the international community. Our contribution to the ongoing operation will obviously not eliminate Isis but will be used to help the Iraqis to defend Isis’s advances themselves,” Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard said.
According to Air Tactical Command (Flyvertaktisk Kommando), the aircraft will head to Iraq on Thursday.
"The plan is to leave [on Thursday] morning. The personnel is ready. They were of course notified in advance and are ready to go," spokesman Lars Skjoldan told Politiken.
The Hercules C-130J will depart from Aalborg Air Base.
The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste) has determined that the Danish mission faces a “high” chance of being fired upon by militants in northern Iraq.
Lidegaard added that Denmark will also contribute humanitarian aid, but the United Nations has previously rejected the use of military aircraft for the transport of emergency aid.
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