Seventy Dutch soldiers who were stuck in Iraq due to the war between Iran and Israel have landed at the airport in Eindhoven, reports news agency ANP.
The soldiers were scheduled to return last week, but their return was delayed due to the war between Israel and Iran. The airspace over Iraq was closed because of that war. That country lies between Iran and Israel.
There are still about 75 Dutch soldiers in Iraq. They transport and secure NATO advisors, among other things. The mission of these Dutch soldiers ends at the end of June, after which they will also return to the Netherlands.
The soldiers have been in Iraq since January; they replaced a group of other Dutch soldiers then.
The Ministry of Defense says it is constantly monitoring the security situation in the region. It also maintains contact with the soldiers and their relatives.