MAINZ, Germany – After its decision to actively engage with Tornado jets in the war against the co-called Islamic State, the German government also decided on sending a navy Frigate to the Persian Gulf to protect the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle.
Just two weeks after German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s pledge to actively support France in the war against ISIS, the first steps have been taken.
On Thursday Berlin decided on sending Tornado reconnaissance jets, with the purpose of tracking ISIS movements, to the battlefields of Iraq, Syria and Kurdistan. Now, the participation is also extended to a German-French satellite observing the region and involvement of the Germany navy.
“The government has decided on difficult but important and necessary steps today,” said defense minister Ursula von der Leyen in a statement to the public.
“We are already part of the coalition, due to the training and equipment we provide to the Peshmerga in northern Iraq. And within this coalition, the steps we discussed today, will be taken,” she added.
The German decision follows a plea by French Francois Hollande for help from his EU allies, after 130 people were killed in terrorist bombings in Paris claimed by ISIS.
Many politicians in Germany accuse countries like Saudi-Arabia or Qatar of either helping ISIS directly or not taking accurate measures against supporters of the jihadists in their own countries.
Through equipment and military training for the Kurdish Peshmerga, Germany has been indirectly involved in the war against ISIS for more than a year. The new decision will make the European heavyweight an active party in the armed conflict.
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