Bundestag approves German anti-IS mission

Germany’s parliament (Bundestag) has approved the Bundeswehr mission for combating the IS terrorist group (ISIS or ISIL) in regions of Syria and Iraq, Deutsche Welle reported.

The mandate was endorsed by 445 parliamentarians, with 146 others voting no and seven abstaining.

The German draft mandate submitted by parliament's foreign affairs committee seeks "to prevent acts of terror" and would stay in effect until December 31, 2016.

The deployment outlined earlier this week by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen will involve six "Tornado" reconnaissance warplanes, a refueling aircraft, the German frigate "Augsburg" to help guard a French aircraft carrier, as well as logistics and command personnel and satellite links.

/By Trend/