The Dutch government will transport weapons and munition from eastern European countries to northern Iraq where they will be handed over to the Kurds, defence minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said on Tuesday.

The weapons and munition are being sent to assist the Kurdish fighters in their battle with the Islamic State and include morters and rocket grenades, the minister told parliament.

Last Sunday, the Netherlands sent a transport plane carrying thousands of military helmets and bullet-proof vests to the town of Irbil in northern Iraq. Humanitarian help such as food parcels has also been sent.

No point

Hennis said there is no point in sending more weapons to Iraq. ‘There are 100,000 weapons on the way to the Kurds,’ she told parliament. ‘That is more than enough.’

According to the minister, what is now more important is that the help from Europe is properly coordinated.