Germany to end anti-IS mission in March
October 24, 2019
The German parliament on Thursday voted to end the Bundeswehr's anti-"Islamic State" (IS) mission in Syria and Iraq after March 31, 2020.
The Christian Democrats (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) have been in a tussle over extending the mission's mandate, with the SPD demanding the German military end its role in the international coalition.
Read more: Germany's Syria conundrum
The SPD has opposed extending the military mission, arguing that former Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen had promised parliament to terminate the anti-IS mandate.
The mandate was set to expire at the end of October and would normally have been extended by a year.
Germany has four Tornado reconnaissance jets, an AWAC aircraft and an in-flight refueling tanker based in Jordan carrying out missions as part of a US-led international coalition.
Lawmakers also voted to extend the Bundeswehr's military training mission in Iraq for one year.
The decision to end Germany's participation the anti-IS mission comes as Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has suggested the creation of an international security zone in northeast Syria.
The United States has urged Germany to continue its participation in the anti-IS mission.
cw/stb (dpa, epd)