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Germany sends first jets, troops for Syria mission

Xinhua, December 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Germany on Thursday started its mission against the Islamic State (IS), with Tornado jets and troops departing for an airbase in Turkey, according to German media reports.

Two Tornado reconnaissance jets and an A400M transport aircraft left their airbase in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, along with an advance contingent of about 40 personnel, for the Incirlik NATO airbase in Turkey.

A total of six Tornado reconnaissance planes are to be sent to Incirlik to take part in operations against the IS. Their first reconnaissance flights are due in January.

Besides, an air-to-air refueling plane was also deployed from an airport near the western city of Cologne.

The Bundestag, lower house of the German parliament, voted on Friday to join combat missions against the IS.

In addition to the six reconnaissance planes and the refueling aircraft, the deployment involves a frigate to help guard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, as well as logistics and command personnel and satellite links.

In total, Germany plans to send up to 1,200 troops to support the international alliance in its anti-terror actions. The mission becomes Germany's largest overseas deployment of troops at the moment.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier defended on Thursday Germany's mission in Syria, stressing that Germany should not hide in the face of the threat of war and terrorism. Enditem