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Finland asked by U.S. to provide assistance in fight against IS

Xinhua, December 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States has asked Finland to assist in the fight against extremist group Islamic State (IS), the Finnish foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday.

Commenting on the request, Chairman of the Parliamentary Defense Committee Ilkka Kanerva told public broadcaster YLE that the U.S. request was "somewhat surprising."

Finland earlier announced its readiness to respond to a French request to send more Finnish soldiers to Mali so that French forces can operate elsewhere.

Kanerva said there is no reason to say no to the United States if the request concerns a crisis management operation. Finland cannot currently use military force abroad except for self defense reasons.

Yle quoted an official as saying the request had been transmitted via the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki. He said the request concerns Syria, Iraq and the coalition against IS.

Last week the commander of the Finnish Air Force General Kim Jaameri said Finland could participate in the surveillance of certain air spaces. But he said the use of the Finnish Hornet-18s against IS ground targets would not be possible. Endit