German parliament to vote on joining anti-IS mission in Syria

Germany's parliament is due to vote on whether the country should provide military support in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, with MPs expected to back the controversial plan

Tornado reconnaissance aircraft, a naval frigate and 1,200 soldiers will then be sent to the region. But German forces will not engage in combat.

The vote comes after a French appeal following last month's Paris attacks.

On Thursday, British warplanes carried out their first air strikes on IS targets in Syria after the country's parliament authorised the military operation.

German MPs are expected to approve the proposal later on Friday, although many admit they will do so reluctantly. Some lawmakers have expressed concerns about mission creep.

However, ministers now believe Germany is now an IS target, and they also want to show solidarity with France.

"I would not have imagined two years ago what sort of an abyss we would be staring into," Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this week.

If approved, this would become Germany's biggest current military operation abroad.

The mandate will initially last a year and will cost €134 million.

It will involve Tornado reconnaissance jets, refuelling aircraft and the naval frigate Sachsen, which will help support the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean.