Legislators on Friday approved plans for Germany to take on a direct role in the battle against ISIS in Syria, answering France’s appeal for help after the deadly Paris attacks.
Legislators on Friday approved plans for Germany to take on a direct role in the battle against ISIS in Syria, answering France’s appeal for help after the deadly Paris attacks.
Parliament agreed to the mandate for the deployment of Tornado reconnaissance jets, a frigate and up to 1,200 troops by an overwhelming majority of 445 votes in favour and 146 against.
The green light for the mission that could become Germany’s biggest deployment abroad comes three weeks after jihadists killed 130 people in a series of attacks in Paris.
The atrocities prompted France to invoke a clause requiring EU states to provide military assistance to wipe out ISIS.
Welcoming the German Parliament’s decision, French President Francois Hollande said it is “another example of the solidarity between France and Germany.” Mr Hollande arrived Friday on France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to meet air crews launching strikes on ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
German reconnaissance planes will soon arrive in Turkey's Incirlik air base to support the US-led coalition's fight against ISIS, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday. Speaking to reporters after a trip to Azerbaijan, Mr Davutoglu also said the government was considering structural measures to compensate for the economic impact of Russian sanctions and that it could support affected companies in sectors including tourism and agriculture.
Germany will not join countries like Britain, France, the United States and Russia in conducting airstrikes.
As Germany and Britain joined the US and France in military strike against ISIS, the White House has said the joint effort will ultimately destroy the terror outfit even though it will be a long and challenging fight. “We all know this will be a long and challenging fight, but our coalition is united and resolute,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters
at his daily news conference.Pressure is mounting on the Netherlands to join US-led air strikes against ISIS in Syria, with several lawmakers joining calls for a bombing campaign.
The Dutch cabinet however said it will reach a decision to take part in the US-led operation only once “all military and political aspects” of the Syrian conflict had been discussed.
“As far as we are concerned it’s high time action is taken against IS in Syria,” Raymond de Roon of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) said.
