Belgium looks to deploy troops in Iraq to support fight against IS

The Cabinet is due to decide this morning whether to send a small reconnaissance mission to Baghdad, Iraq, to prepare for the deployment of 50 Belgian soldiers on the ground in the Iraqi capital. It would be the first time the Belgian army has been active in Iraq. They would be expected to assist in the fight against the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS).

If the government gives the green light, two soldiers will go immediately to Baghdad and one to Kuwait to join international coalition staff to prepare for the deployment. First, the mission has to ascertain if the Belgian soldiers would be sufficiently protected at the Baghdad base. The 50 soldiers would be expected to train and advise the Iraqi army and would not take part in actual confrontations with IS.

“We will wait for the report from these three people first before deploying troops in 2015,” stated the defence cabinet. The government already came out in favour of the deployment last month.