Netherlands

The Netherlands is currently a party to a series of armed conflicts. For further information on who is considered a party to an armed conflict, see ‘contemporary challenges – multinational forces: who is a party to the conflict?' in our classification section.

• The Netherlands is a party to the non-international armed conflict in Iraq against the Islamic State group. It launched its first airstrike against the Islamic State group in Iraq on 7 October 2014. A. Sarhan, 'Netherlands Carries Out First Airstrike Against ISIS', Iraqi News, 8 October 2015; Netherlands Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria: Towards Improved Transparency and Public Accountability, Airwars, February 2016, p 1.

• The Netherlands became a party to the non-international armed conflict in Syria against the Islamic State group in Syria after extending its airstrikes against Islamic State group targets into Syria in January 2016. The Netherlands and Belgium take turns in undertaking airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the international military coalition. M. van Tartwijk, 'Netherlands to Extend Airstrikes Against Islamic State into Syria', The Wall Street Journal, 29 January 2016; see also the information provided for by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. In January 2018, the Dutch Ministry of Defence reported that six fighter planes departed to take part again in the airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, see the translation of the Dutch Ministry of Defence by airwars.

• Due to its airstrikes in Syria without the consent of the Syrian government, the Netherlands is also a party to the international armed conflict in Syria.