German defence minister heads to Ankara as Islamic State vote nears

Berlin (dpa) - German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen was set to fly Thursday to Ankara for talks as a vote neared in Germany‘s parliament in Berlin on sending six Tornado reconnaissance jets to assist Western strikes against Islamic State targets."We need this combination of airstrikes and local ground forces that have a vital interest in winning back territory," she told a news conference, pointing to German military training so far of 5,500 Kurdish-led fighters in Iraq to fight the Islamic state.Her spokesman said she would meet Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz in the Turkish capital. Germany will base the Tornado jets at Incirlik air base in southern Turkey.On Friday, Germany‘s parliament, which has the final say on all foreign deployments, is scheduled to vote on authorization for the Tornado jets, a refuelling plane, air-force personnel and a German Navy frigate to joint the Western military effort.Von der Leyen said US forces would be responsible for combat search and rescue for German personnel operating in the conflict zone.Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s cabinet this week sought approval for the deployment of up to 1,200 military personnel, including the frigate crew, to support the international campaign to defeat Islamic State.The year-long, 134-million-euro (142-million-dollar) mission will not involve the Germans conducting their own airstrikes.The frigate is expected to provide backup to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which has already been sent to the eastern Mediterranean as part of the anti-Islamic State coalition.