German parliament approves military campaign against ISIL

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, right, talk during a meeting of the German Federal Parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Germany's lower house of parliament on Dec. 4 approved government plans to join the military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria 

Of the 598 lawmakers who took part in the vote, 445 voted for, 146 against and seven abstained. 

The mission will include sending six Tornado reconnaissance jets, a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, refuelling aircraft and up to 1,200 military personnel. Germany will not join countries like Britain, France, the United States and Russia in conducting airstrikes.

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