Belgian F-16s fight IS in Iraq

A Belgian F-16 fighter jet launched an attack on a "terrorist element” in Iraq, according to the Belgian Ministry of Defence. It is the first time that Belgians execute an attack as part of the anti-ISIS (Islamic State) mission, an international coalition against ultra-radical Islamist militants in Iraq and Syria.

Two Belgian fighter jets were on a reconnaissance flight when extra air support was requested following a terrorist attack on Iraqi security forces. The target, a jeep and several ISIS militants, was "immediately neutralised" with a GPS-guided bomb. The attack took place west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The reconnaissance flight ended up taking more than seven hours to complete.

Belgium has six F-16s and 120 soldiers stationed in the north of Jordan since last Saturday.