Germany to give military assistance to fight Islamic State

Germany’s parliament has approved plans to provide military assistance in the fight against Islamic State militants, including reconnaissance jets and up to 1,200 support personnel.

MPs voted 445 to 146 to back the plan crafted by chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet this week following a pledge of greater support in the wake of the attacks in Paris, for which Islamic state, also known as Isis, has claimed responsibility.

Germany plans to send up to six Tornado reconnaissance planes and tanker aircraft, as well as a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean, but will not actively engage in combat.

Two German Tornados and a tanker are expected to be sent to Turkey’s Incirlik air base next week but will not be fully operational until next month.

The announcement came as French president Francois Hollande visited the Charles de Gaulle, which has launched raids against Islamic State bases since the November 13th attacks that killed 130 in Paris.

The government announced it was deploying the ship, France’s only aircraft carrier, to the region a week before the Paris attacks.

The French carrier had previously been deployed in the Persian Gulf from February to April, conducting between 15 and 20 flights per day, according to the French military.

Meanwhile, Britain conducted its first air strikes in Syria, targeting oil fields that have been controlled by Islamic State for more than a year.

British secretary of state for defence Michael Fallon said the overnight strikes had hit the al-Omar oil field.

Activists in the province of Deir Ezzor reported other coalition strikes on the al-Jafra and al-Tanak oil fields, as well as the Conoco gas processing plant. The bombings are some of the most intense Islamic State facilities in the area over the past year.

Islamic State, also known as Isis, seized the oil fields, Syria's largest, during its surge into Iraq last summer.

Agencies