Germany to Support Military Campaign Against ISIS After French Appeal

[Redheart]

Germany to Support Military Campaign Against ISIS After French Appeal - NBC News

Germany will join the military campaign against ISIS militants in Syria by deploying Tornado reconnaissance jets, refueling aircraft and a frigate to the region, after a direct appeal from close partner France for Berlin to do more.

The decision to commit military personnel and hardware is a shift for Germany, which has resisted such direct involvement in the conflict. It still has no plans to join France, the United States and Russia in conducting air strikes in Syria.

"Today the government took difficult but important and necessary decisions," Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after meeting with lawmakers. "We are standing with France, which was hit by these inhuman attacks from IS."


Chancellor Angela Merkel promised the support, which must still be approved by parliament, during talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Wednesday.

Berlin expects to commit four to six Tornado jets, provide satellite support, refueling planes and a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which the French navy has sent to the eastern Mediterranean to support air strikes in both Syria and Iraq.


Henning Otte, a member of parliament for Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who acts as a spokesman for the party on defense matters, told Reuters that the government aimed to have a draft of the new mandate ready by Tuesday and seek approval from the Bundestag by the end of the year.

The moves follow attacks by Islamic extremists in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people and led Hollande to call for a grand coalition of countries to fight Islamic State.

 

[Jaeger]

Our contribution has also been other things as well ASGAARD security been helping the Peshmerga fight ISIS, training and arming the Peshmerga. Now Recon and refueling for the French forces i believe the Fatherland is now taking steps to stand with our allies.

 

[Falcon29]

Our contribution has also been other things as well ASGAARD security been helping the Peshmerga fight ISIS, training and arming the Peshmerga. Now Recon and refueling for the French forces i believe the Fatherland is now taking steps to stand with our allies.

Seems to me Germany has had biggest impact along the US. Because Germany is shipping weaponry even if small arms, they are high quality, to the certain Kurdish factions. And along the advisers they have actual impact on the ground. The US has biggest impact in countering offensives by ISIS against Shia government and south of Iraq with their airstrikes, helicopter strikes near Baghdad. Then in Syria US strikes is having effect in Hasakah, Deir Ezzor and north of Raqqa. Other than that though, some countries are joining coalition but don't do anything or have several air strikes per year. Besides UK, which claims has done 300 drone strikes I don't know if true.

 

[Jaeger]

we are trying to pick up fighting against Terrorism. The Kurds said the aid they have received from Germany has made a major difference. and not only have we given them training and small arms we have also sold them vehicles including 15 Dingo MRAPs

 

[djordjem87]

I can see it has become a trend to say how you do not want to take part in this conflict but in the end you change your mind. Interesting approach really. This is how it will all start and we should be happy being able to witness history writing in front of our eyes. I hoped for some better scenario but still we are going to be part of it and if survive we could even talk about it to our grandchildren. Nothing smart to say on this, hypocrisy is one of the best qualities of western countries in general so this is not a thing to debate about.

 

[Corzhens]

Is this move related to the NATO direction of gathering forces against ISIS? I hope the heat of passion related to the Paris attack will last for a longer time until all those countries against ISIS can toss in their support whether NATO or not. With that intention of Germany, maybe some other European countries will follow suit.

 

[Redheart]

Update:

German Cabinet OKs military mission against ISIS in Syria - CNN.com
The German Cabinet, representing a country known for its reluctance since World War II to engage in military adventures abroad, has approved a military support mission against ISIS in Syria.

Final approval must still be obtained by the lower house of the German parliament.

The mission, if approved, will include as many as 1,200 German soldiers, a statement from the government said.

Germany would provide aerial and satellite reconnaissance, aerial refueling and the provision of a naval escort to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the government statement says.

Approval of the measure could come as soon as Wednesday.

 

[Gasoline]

Germany approves mission to support strikes against Islamic State

Germany has approved the launch of a 1,200-strong military mission to support coalition operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, including six Tornado reconnaissance aircraft. A further 650 personnel will be deployed to Mali. Source: Bundeswehr



The German parliament (Bundestag) voted in favour of supporting French and coalition operations against the Islamic State on 4 December.

German forces will play a supporting and enabling role, rather than conducting strikes themselves. In total the deployment of some 1,200 German personnel has been approved to support the operations, making it instantly the single biggest German international military commitment currently active.

The deployments include the F122 Bremen-class anti-submarine warfare frigate FGSAugsburg in support of France's naval task force in the Mediterranean; up to six Panavia Tornado aircraft for tactical reconnaissance; and one Airbus A310 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

An additional 650 German troops will be deployed as part of the UN's MINUSMA mission in Mali in order to relieve pressure on French forces in the region; while the number of military trainers and advisors in Iraq will be increased to 150.

The Bundestag mandate for the mission begins immediately and lasts for 12 months, although Tornado reconnaissance flights will not begin until January 2016.

The extra deployments have prompted the Bundeswehr to take stock of its main assets, surveying how many systems are available and how many of those are actually mission-ready. A report on Germany's inventory, of which IHS Jane's has seen a copy, makes for mixed reading: while most systems have acceptable or better readiness numbers, other systems have poor levels of readiness. Of 93 Tornados, 38 are currently ready and available for missions; 38 Eurofighters out of 114 are currently fully available; and 21 of 50 Transall transport aircraft are also mission-ready.

Germany's helicopter fleet however has less rosy numbers, with only 7 out of 43 total Tiger attack helicopters being available and ready, and only 5 of 40 NH90 transport helicopters. While the navy reports 7 out of 10 active frigates mission-ready, its helicopter contingent is down to 4 available Sea Lynx (out of 22) and 5 Sea King helicopters (out of 21).


Germany approves mission to support strikes against Islamic State | IHS Jane's 360

 

[eveliner]

It seems to me ISIS wants to be attacked in a way or another. They know that countries can't stay still when it comes to the fierce public opinion that seeks revenge, so they must act accordingly, but ISIS intentions just that. We perceive islamists as braindead, brainwashed individual, but in reality... they're smart, sneaky and filthy rich. We're just looking at it the wrong way.