German troops set for biggest deployment abroad
Germany is planning to deploy 1,200 troops to help France in the fight against Islamic State jihadists in Syria, its army chief said yesterday, in what would be the military’s biggest deployment abroad.
“From a military point of view, around 1,200 soldiers would be necessary to run the planes and ship,” army chief of staff General Volker Wieker told Bild am Sonntag newspaper, adding that the mission would begin “very quickly once a mandate is obtained.”
“The government is seeking a mandate this year,” said Wieker.
Berlin on Thursday offered France Tornado reconnaissance jets, a naval frigate, aerial refuelling and satellite images in the fight against the militant IS group.
Between four and six Tornados would be deployed to deliver images of the ground, even in poor weather and during the night, Wieker said.
Asked why Germany had shied away from participating in direct airstrikes, Wieker said the coalition already had “sufficient forces and means” dealing with that aspect of the battle.
“What is needed is reconnaissance on the ground, so that these forces can be deployed effectively. Our Tornados can contribute a lot in that area,” he said.
Talks are ongoing with Turkey and Jordan on stationing the planes in Incirlik — which also serves as a base for US jets, as well as in Amman.
Wieker swiped aside any criticism that Germany had opted for “the least dangerous” tasks, saying: “This allegation is not justified. What is the difference when you fly a bomber jet or a reconnaisance plane over the same area? The levels of threat and danger are the same.”
Post-war Germany has been traditionally reluctant to send troops abroad, although it has joined UN-mandated missions in the Balkans and elsewhere, and the NATO coalition in Afghanistan.
Germany has not taken part in airstrikes against the IS in Syria and Iraq, which have been mainly flown by US and French aircraft.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
- RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证:沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证:31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证:0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证:沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证:沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.