Germany votes to contribute non-combat support to fight against ISIS in Syria
Parliament backs sending non-combat support in fight against Islamic State group in Syria
The German parliament voted Friday in favour of providing non-combat support to the U.S.-led coalition carrying out airstrikes against ISIS in Syria.
British bombers hit ISIS oil fields in Syria on Thursday as part of the coalition's effort to combat the militants in the country.
The move — which would see Germany contribute reconnaissance jets, a tanker plane, a frigate and up to 1,200 soldiers as supporting troops to Turkey, Qatar and Kuwait — answers a call for help from France following last month's deadly attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people.
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The German parliament voted 445 in support of the nearly $195-million mission, with 146 against and seven abstentions.
The plan received wide support from the ranks of Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition, a week after the German leader assured French President François Hollande that Germany would "act quickly" to help its ally.
Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this week the goal of the mission "is to fight and contain IS, and destroy their safe havens and their ability to lead worldwide terror."
German opposition lawmakers, however, questioned the effectiveness of military operations against the extremists.
"You won't fight IS that way. You'll only strengthen it," Left Party lawmaker Sahra Wagenknecht told Parliament.
The mission is open-ended, but needs annual approval from the German parliament.
Canada pulling out bombers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said Canada will be withdrawing its fighter jets from the anti-ISIS mission. While the CF-18s will be withdrawn, other planes — two surveillance aircrafts, two transport planes and a Polaris in-flight refuelling plane — will remain in the U.S.-lead coalition combat mission.
While Canada will not be part of the bombing mission, Trudeau says he will increase the number of military trainers on the ground to train Kurdish forces and the Iraqi military.