Dutch F-16s join Libyan raids, but don’t take part in bombing
Dutch F-16 fighter jets are flying with Nato-led missions over Libya but are not involved in actual bombing, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday, quoting defence briefings.
The Dutch jets are giving protection to their Nato partners and passing on information about troop movements and bomb damage to the command centre, the paper says.
Since the start of the mission, Dutch F-16s have carried out 180 flights. Officially, they are in the region to monitor the no-fly zone and weapons embargo.
The documents stress that Dutch aircraft are not allowed to take part in bombing but are trying to help their allies. ‘If you are patrolling above Libya, you want to be as useful as possible,’ the paper quotes lieutenant colonel Johan van Deventer as saying.
Earlier stories
Dutch planes will not take part in bombing
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