The Dutch government does not support the US-Israeli attack on Iran but says it understands why it took place, prime minister Rob Jetten told parliament during a debate on the conflict on Thursday.

Jetten said the strikes fall “outside the framework of international law” and stressed that the Netherlands has given neither political nor military backing. “There is no question of support,” he said, adding that the government is responding to events rather than being involved in the decision to act.

During the debate, opposition parties on the left warned that this stance risks drawing the Netherlands into another conflict. GroenLinks-PvdA leader Jesse Klaver said the country must avoid repeating mistakes made during the Iraq war and warned that “anyone who thinks Iran can be bombed into freedom is mistaken”.

The Netherlands gave political support to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Jetten said the government’s position reflects concerns about Iran’s repression at home, its role in regional instability and its nuclear and missile programmes. “Given that history, we understand that the US and Israel felt compelled to act, while still insisting that international law must be respected,” he said.

Parties on the right criticised the cabinet for not going far enough, arguing the attack should be openly supported. Jetten, however, said the conflict underlines the need for closer European cooperation, adding that Europe’s influence is currently limited.

Cannon not working

During the same debate, defence minister Dilan Yesilgöz faced criticism over information given to parliament about the deployment of the frigate Zr. Ms. Evertsen to the eastern Mediterranean on the request of France.

She said she had only recently learned that a cannon on board was not working, and acknowledged MPs should have been informed earlier, even in confidential briefings.

Military sources had told Dutch media that the cannon, while brand new, is not yet fully operational. A defence ministry spokesman said later that the cannon was not essential to the frigate’s current mission which is based on providing air defence cover.

Meanwhile, around 100 Dutch ships, or ships sailing under the Dutch flag, are known to be waiting in the Persian Gulf to cross through the Straits of Hormuz because of the risk of being attacked, NOS reported.