The Danish government is sending seven F-16 fighter jets to take part in airstrikes in Iraq against the Islamic State extremist group.

Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said her left-leaning government has a parliamentary majority backing the deployment of four operational planes and three reserve jets along with 250 pilots and support staff.

She said a vote in parliament is planned, but is considered a formality.

The Netherlands has already agreed to join the US-led coalition in Iraq. Neither country plans to deploy in Syria.

Denmark has already contributed a transport plane to a US-led humanitarian operation in northern Iraq.

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