German Parliament Approves Deployment of Military Mission Against IS

The German parliament approved overwhelmingly on Friday the deployment of a military mission in support of the international coalition against Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

A total of 445 MPs voted in favour of the mission, 146 lawmakers were against, while seven abstained, Deutsche Welle informs.

The plan foresees the deployment of six Tornado reconnaissance warplanes, a refueling tanker aircraft, the frigate Augsburg and 1200 German troops, including technicians.

The mission comes in response to the deadly attacks in Paris on November 13, which claimed the lives of 130 people and left hundreds injured.

German aircraft will not conduct airstrikes against IS targets, while the frigate will help guard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which had been deployed in the wake of the Paris attacks.

The mandate of the mission, which expires on 31 December 2016, is to “prevent acts of terror”, with its estimated cost being EUR 134 M.

Prior to the vote in parliament, German Justice Minister Heiko Maas assured that the mission was breaching neither international law nor the German constitution.

Earlier on Tuesday, the German government had approved the mission.