Belgium to send 35 soldiers to Iraq

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Belgium is to send 35 soldiers to Iraq to help train the Iraqi army in the fight against ISIS, AFP reported on Friday. The troops are expected to leave today on a six-month tour of duty in a “secure location”, a government statement revealed.

According to a spokesman for Defence Minister Steven Vandeput, the Belgian soldiers will have no combat role and will focus on “training and advice”.

Belgium has been a member of the international coalition against ISIS since last September. Six F-16 jets and 120 personnel of the Belgian Air Force are based in Jordan, from where they join air strikes against the ISIS extremists. /End/