Belgium already has eight F-16s on exercise in Greece, and, according to the Air Force, six of those would go into action as Flanders Today went to press. The personnel detail will include about a dozen pilots as well as support staff, whose numbers will depend on the base at which the jets are stationed and whether other nations are also present to share technical responsibilities. The detail will be supplied from air bases in Kleine Brogel, Limburg province, and Florennes, Namur province. The planes themselves come from Limburg.

Each F-16 will be equipped with two medium range AIM-120 Amraam air-to-air missiles and two short- range AIM-9 Sidewinders. Since the aircraft on exercise have only missiles equipped with guidance systems, warheads and other parts will be delivered by C-130. The minesweeper Narcis is also in the Mediterranean, with its crew of 32. The duration of the mission is not known, but federal defence minister Pieter De Crem warned at the weekend that it "could last a long time" and cause "very many casualties".

Meanwhile, about 1,500 people in Brussels took part last weekend in a march in support of the "Arabic spring" - the series of popular uprisings in the Arab world, including Libya.