Hungary planning to send troops to Iraq to join IS fight

Budapest: Hungary's prime minister says his government will ask parliament to authorise sending Hungarian troops to join its western allies in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq.

Viktor Orban told a meeting of Hungarian diplomats today that taking part in military activities organised by Hungary's Western coalition partners would bring prestige and recognition to the country's foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said earlier that, based on a request from the United States, Hungary could send 100-150 soldiers to work with German and Italian forces in northern Iraq guarding training centres for Iraqi troops.

While Orban's Fidesz party no longer has the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to authorise the military mission, some opposition lawmakers said they would be willing to back the proposal.