Denmark boosts military contribution to fight IS

A broad majority in the Danish parliament on Tuesday approved a proposal to increase the country's military contribution to the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.

"The brutal and ruthless terrorist organization IS must meet a powerful response from the outside world. The darkness must be combated," said Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen.

The contribution of Danish forces will consist of seven F-16 fighter jets, a Hercules transport aircraft and up to 400 soldiers, which is expected to spend 300 million Danish kroner(45.87 million U.S. dollars).

"Denmark has always been a part of the coalition against IS, and we are now increasing our contribution considerably," Rasmussen added.

Apart from the Liberal-led government, the broad majority that supported the proposal consisted of the Social Democratic Party, the Danish People's Party, the Liberal Alliance, the Social Liberals and the Conservatives.

It is not the first time that Denmark has sent troops to fight the IS. Danish F-16 jets returned home for repairs and rest in October last year after taking part in the coalition's air strikes against IS in Iraq.

Source: XINHUA