Singapore armed forces personnel to join forces against ISIS

SINGAPORE: Singapore today said it will contribute personnel to the US-led multinational coalition battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to join the effort.

Speaking at a new training facility for airborne troopers here, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said planning and liaison officers have already made their way to the United States Central Command to get "a sense what the mission's requirements are".

The coalition partners have welcomed Singapore's involvement and were looking forward to Singapore's professional input, he said.

Hen said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) would now "synchronise" where its help is most needed.

The minister had last week told Parliament that Singapore's efforts would include deploying a KC-135R tanker aircraft for air-to-air refuelling and an Imagery Analysis Team.

He said there will be no combat troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria.

Around 50-60 SAF soldiers would operate from surrounding countries together with other coalition forces.

Singapore has expressed concern about terrorism threat including the Islamic State.

The IS militants have captured swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. It is a splinter group of the al-Qaeda which has distanced itself from the outfit, chiding it for its aggressive and brutal expansion.

The IS gained international attention in August, when its fighters and those from other militant groups swept through the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, then overran swaths of territory north and west of Baghdad.