Belgium says to begin airstrikes against 'ISIL' in Syria
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Belgium's Minister for Defense and Public Service Steven Vandeput (L) gets ready for a test flight onboard an F16 fighter jet following a press conference on the results of Operation Desert Falcon in Iraq on July 20, 2015 in Peer.
Belgium has decided to extend the scope of its contribution to the US-led air campaign allegedly targeting ISIL, saying it will launch attacks on the Takfiri terrorists' positions in Syria.
A spokesman for Belgium’s government said Friday that the airstrikes by the western European nation, which were previously limited to the positions of ISIL in Iraq, will now cover areas in Syria where terrorist groups, including ISIL, have swaths of land under their control.
“In accordance with UN Resolution 2249, the engagement will be limited to those areas of Syria under the control of ISIL and other terrorist groups," Prime Minister Charles Michel’s spokesman said, adding that the strikes will begin on July 1.
Belgium is still reeling from attacks claimed by ISIL at Brussels airport and the metro on March 22 that killed 32 people.
Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders had warned in early March that it did not make sense to attack ISIL in Iraq but not in Syria as Belgium nationals recruited by ISIL have also been fighting alongside the group in Syria and that their return threatens Belgium’s security.
Belgian officials said the objective of the new mission will be to destroy the hideouts of ISIL and other terror groups in Syria, meaning that the air strikes will not only be limited to ISIL.
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