The Dutch airforce has intensified its bombing of the terror organisation Islamic State in Iraq over the last four months figures obtained by broadcaster RTL from the defence ministry show.

In the first six months of this year, Dutch F-16 fighter planes fired 350 rockets at IS in Iraq. But since April, the number has risen to 450.

Only the US and the UK have been more active over Iraq, RTL says.

According to defence minister Jeanine Hennis, the figures do not give a complete picture. The number of rockets fired and bombs dropped depends on the type of mission being flown, she said.

‘The hard reality is that IS is a stubborn enemy,’ she told the broadcaster.

The Dutch currently have six F-16s active in Iraq.