Germany’s parliament has voted to send German military support to the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Syria.
MPs approved the controversial plan for a German non-combat role.
Tornado Reconnaissance Aircraft, a naval frigate and a 1,200 soldiers will now be sent to the region.
The vote came after a French appeal following last month’s Paris attacks. Ministers believe Germany is now an ISIS target too.
On Thursday, British warplanes carried out first air strikes on ISIS targets in Syria after the country’s parliament authorised the military operation.
Chancellor Angela Merkel relied on MPs from the ruling CDU/CSU coalition to back the motion for military involvement.
Germany’s opposition party rejected the mission, while most of the parliament’s Green MPs also voted no, according to reports.
Ahead of the vote, Green Party Chairwoman, Simone Peter, expressed concern about the legal basis for the mission without a specific UN resolution authorising it.
But Justice Minister, Heiko Maas, told Tagesspiegel newspaper on Friday that he had no doubts about the legal legitimacy.
