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Czech gov't approves sending fighters to protect Iceland's airspace

Xinhua, June 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Czech government on Wednesday approved the decision to send five JAS-39 Gripen fighters to patrol Iceland's airspace for six weeks in July and August, said Czech Defence Ministry spokesman Petr Medek.

The Czech Republic will send 70 ground personnel to Iceland along with the five fighters.

According to the original plan, the airspace of Iceland was to be guarded by Canadian aircraft, but it will instead join the operation against the Islamic State.

Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky said the extraordinary deployment of Czech aircraft was based on an urgent request from NATO.

He said the Czech Republic was proving to the Allies its readiness to respond to new challenges and also indirectly contribute to the international community's fight against the Islamic State.

Czech fighters patrolled the skies over Iceland last year. This time will be the fourth deployment of Czech supersonic aircraft in international operations. The Czech military helped protect the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2009 and 2012. Endit