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Germany to boost role in Syria

Germany plans to play a bigger role in the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria by deploying Tornado reconnaissance jets, refuelling aircraft and a frigate to the region following a direct appeal from close partner France for Berlin to do more.

The decision to commit military personnel and hardware is a shift for Germany, which has resisted such direct involvement in the conflict.

It has no plans to join France, the United States and Russia in conducting air strikes in Syria.

Lawmakers from Germany’s ruling parties were meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss the new commitments.

German officials said Chancellor Angela Merkel had promised the support, which must be approved by parliament, at talks with French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday.

“Germany will be a more active contributor than it has been until now,” said Henning Otte, a member of parliament for Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who acts as a spokesman for the party on defence matters.

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Otte told Reuters that the government aimed to have a draft of the new mandate ready by Tuesday and seek approval from the Bundestag by the end of the year.

The moves follow attacks by Islamic extremists in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people and led Hollande to call for a grand coalition of countries to fight Islamic State.

German officials said that Merkel saw the bigger German role as a necessary price to pay in exchange for Hollande’s continued support in the refugee crisis.

His Prime Minister Manuel Valls suggested in comments published by several European newspapers on Wednesday, that Europe should stop letting in so many refugees.

The remarks were seen by some as a warning to the German chancellor, who is pushing her European partners to accept quotas of refugees.

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