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Germany Votes to Join Other Countries Bombing Syria

  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel votes during a session of the Bundestag, the German lower house of Parliament, in Berlin, Germany, December 4, 2015.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel votes during a session of the Bundestag, the German lower house of Parliament, in Berlin, Germany, December 4, 2015. | Photo: Reuters

Published 4 December 2015
Opinion

Germany is joining other Western countries in the so called fight against the Islamic State group.

Germany's Parliament voted Friday to send military support to the U.S.-led coalition claiming to be fighting the Islamic State group in Syria. The plan was approved by an overwhelming majority of 445 votes in favor and 146 against. 

The mission will include sending six Tornado reconnaissance jets along with 1,200 troops to tackle the Islamic State group after ​France requested support following last month’s attacks in Paris, which left over 100 people dead. It follows Britain also voting this week to also launch their first airstrikes in Syria.

According to the BBC, this will be Germany's largest military operation abroad and will initially cost US$146 million a year.

While German forces will be armed and authorized to defend themselves if attacked, German pilots won't be conducting offensive airstrikes in Syria.

Following World War II Germany adopted a constitution which prohibits them from participating in wars on foreign soil. Thus far, Germany has only provided logistical and technical assistance to the international alliance, refraining from participation in the coalition's airstrikes.

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