Norwegian Parliament approves sending troops into Syria

Norwegian lawmakers have given consent to sending troops to join coalition forces in Syria in the international struggle against Islamic State militants.

According to the approved government plans, a contingent of some 60 Norwegian soldiers will provide training, advice and operational support for Syrian groups fighting the radical Islamists in the country. Earlier plans only included helping such Syrian forces outside Syrian territory.

After the approval Wednesday, Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide told Norwegian news agency NTB that as progress against IS militants had been better than expected it was “more important that coalition forces must also be able to train, advise and provide operational support to local groups on Syrian territory.”

The Norwegian troops will be deployed later during the summer and will be based in Jordan.