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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Syria conflict: German MPs vote for anti-IS military mission | Syria conflict: German MPs vote for anti-IS military mission |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Germany's parliament has voted to send military support to the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. | Germany's parliament has voted to send military support to the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. |
| MPs approved the plan for a German non-combat role by 445 votes to 146. | MPs approved the plan for a German non-combat role by 445 votes to 146. |
| Tornado jets - for reconnaissance - a naval frigate and 1,200 soldiers will be sent to the region. | Tornado jets - for reconnaissance - a naval frigate and 1,200 soldiers will be sent to the region. |
| The vote comes after a French request following last month's Paris attacks. Ministers believe Germany is now an IS target too. | The vote comes after a French request following last month's Paris attacks. Ministers believe Germany is now an IS target too. |
| On Thursday, British warplanes carried out their first air strikes on IS targets in Syria after the country's parliament authorised the military operation. | On Thursday, British warplanes carried out their first air strikes on IS targets in Syria after the country's parliament authorised the military operation. |
| This will be Germany's biggest current military operation abroad. | This will be Germany's biggest current military operation abroad. |
| The mandate will initially last a year and will cost €134m (£97m; $146m). | The mandate will initially last a year and will cost €134m (£97m; $146m). |
| Half of German Tornado jets 'not airworthy' | Half of German Tornado jets 'not airworthy' |
| Turkmens flee Russian bombing | Turkmens flee Russian bombing |
| Islamic State: Where key countries stand | Islamic State: Where key countries stand |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel relied on MPs from her ruling Christian Democrat (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrat (SPD) coalition to back the motion for military involvement. | |
| Germany's opposition Left party rejected the mission, while most of the parliament's Green MPs also voted no, according to reports. | Germany's opposition Left party rejected the mission, while most of the parliament's Green MPs also voted no, according to reports. |
| Ahead of the vote, Green Party chairwoman Simone Peter expressed concern about the legal basis for the mission without a specific UN resolution authorising it. | Ahead of the vote, Green Party chairwoman Simone Peter expressed concern about the legal basis for the mission without a specific UN resolution authorising it. |
| But Justice Minister Heiko Maas told Tagesspiegel newspaper on Friday that he had no doubts about the legal legitimacy. | But Justice Minister Heiko Maas told Tagesspiegel newspaper on Friday that he had no doubts about the legal legitimacy. |
| "We have to stop these terrorist murderers," he said. "We will not succeed in this by military means alone, but we will not succeed without it either." | "We have to stop these terrorist murderers," he said. "We will not succeed in this by military means alone, but we will not succeed without it either." |
| After the Paris attacks last month the UN Security Council adopted a French resolution calling on UN member states to "take all necessary measures" to "prevent and suppress terrorist acts" committed by IS, al-Qaeda and affiliated "terrorist" groups. | After the Paris attacks last month the UN Security Council adopted a French resolution calling on UN member states to "take all necessary measures" to "prevent and suppress terrorist acts" committed by IS, al-Qaeda and affiliated "terrorist" groups. |
| France also invoked an EU Treaty clause on mutual defence - Article 42.7 - to get help from its EU partners in the fight against IS. | France also invoked an EU Treaty clause on mutual defence - Article 42.7 - to get help from its EU partners in the fight against IS. |
| The German army says forces will be deployed "in and over Syria where IS is operating, on the territory of states whose governments have given approval [to Germany], in the eastern Mediterranean, Gulf, Red Sea and adjoining seas". | The German army says forces will be deployed "in and over Syria where IS is operating, on the territory of states whose governments have given approval [to Germany], in the eastern Mediterranean, Gulf, Red Sea and adjoining seas". |
| Aside from aircraft, the naval frigate Sachsen will help support the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean. | Aside from aircraft, the naval frigate Sachsen will help support the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean. |
| Germany will boost to 150 its 100-strong contingent of troops in northern Iraq. They are helping to train Kurdish Peshmerga forces who are fighting IS. Germany is also providing arms and ammunition for them. | Germany will boost to 150 its 100-strong contingent of troops in northern Iraq. They are helping to train Kurdish Peshmerga forces who are fighting IS. Germany is also providing arms and ammunition for them. |
| Germany's armed services association has cautioned against entering a conflict without clearly defined goals. | Germany's armed services association has cautioned against entering a conflict without clearly defined goals. |
| "I'm working on the basis that this fight, if it is taken seriously, will go on for well over 10 years," the association's chairman Andre Wuestner told German TV this week. | "I'm working on the basis that this fight, if it is taken seriously, will go on for well over 10 years," the association's chairman Andre Wuestner told German TV this week. |
| Until now, Germany's biggest foreign mission has been in Afghanistan, but that has gradually wound down to a force of just less than 1,000. | Until now, Germany's biggest foreign mission has been in Afghanistan, but that has gradually wound down to a force of just less than 1,000. |