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Germany to offer military aid to help fight against IS: report

Xinhua, November 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Germany plans to offer military aid to help fight against the Islamic State (IS), according to German media reports on Thursday.

Citing government sources, the German Press Agency reported that Germany would send "Tornado" reconnaissance jets, a warship and at least one tanker aircraft to Syria. Satellite reconnaissance assistance will also be provided by the German armed forces.

A defense expert from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) told media earlier in the day that Germany would become "a more active contributor than it is now."

The move is followed by a visit of Merkel to Paris on Wednesday. The chancellor promised a swift response to France's request regarding the fight against the IS in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris.

The decision to offer military aid still needs to be approved by the Bundestag, lower house of the German parliament.

Germany has already promised to send up to 650 peacekeeping troops to Mali, aiming to help relieve pressure on France, as it is strained in its fight against the IS.

Berlin has also promised to strengthen its operations training anti-IS fighters in northern Iraq. Endit