Netherlands to transition from F-16s to F-35s in Iraq, advisors remain

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Netherlands will pull its F-16s from the US-led international anti-ISIS coalition at the end of the year and keep about 62 trainers in Iraq.

Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten stated on Friday that the F-16s have made "a significant contribution to the defeat of ISIS" but their mandate is ending, so they can begin to transition to the newer F-35s in 2019.

She stressed the Netherlands will remain involved in Iraq because it's important to help support the country after their victory over ISIS.

To this end, Dutch trainers will continue to train forces in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region through NATO.

NATO is a member of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Some 50 Dutch military trainers are in Erbil and 12 in Baghdad, according to the ministry. Additionally, the Netherlands provides 20 military and civilian experts for the NATO mission in Iraq which will begin this fall.

NATO announced it would take a larger role in training Iraqi Security Forces earlier this year.

The Netherlands has trained, advised, and assisted Kurdistan's Peshmerga and Iraqi forces through the ISIS conflict.

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