The Netherlands will provide F-16 fighter jets to the international alliance taking shape to combat the Islamic State militia, Trouw reports on Thursday, quoting confidential sources.

In addition, the Netherlands will supply weapons to the Kurds, Trouw says, quoting foreign affairs and defence ministry contacts.

The plan will be discussed in the cabinet on Friday but is not expected to run into any difficulties. While VVD ministers would like to go further, they are happy with this deal which also has the backing of the coalition Labour party, Trouw says.

This means foreign affairs minister Frans Timmermans will be able to present the decision at the UN security meeting in New York on Friday night, the paper says.

Wales

The Netherlands was not involved in the first meeting to work out how to deal with the rise of the IS, which took place in Wales under the auspices of Nato two weeks ago.

That gave rise to headlines about the Dutch being sidelined or snubbed. Although Timmermans said at the time the meeting room had been too small, other sources said the Dutch offer of 1,000 flak jackets and helmets was not considered serious enough.

The promise of F-16s to bomb targets in Iraq, and possibly Syria later, is one of the US’ conditions to admit the Netherlands to the alliance, Trouw says.