German cabinet backs plans to join military campaign against IS in Syria

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet agreed on Tuesday on plans to join the military campaign against Islamic State in Syria, a government official said.

(Reuters) Source: Reuters

Under the plans, Germany will deploy Tornado reconnaissance jets, refuelling aircraft, a frigate and up to 1,200 military personnel to the region.

The Bundestag lower house of parliament will hold a vote on Wednesday.

Merkel's cabinet is made up of her own conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), with whom she shares power.

Britain to hold vote on launching Syria air strikes

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would hold a debate and vote in parliament on Wednesday to decide whether to launch air strikes against Islamic State in Syria.

"I will be recommending to Cabinet tomorrow that we hold a debate and a vote in the House of Commons to extend the air strikes that we've carried out against ISIL in Iraq, that we extend that to Syria," he said in a televised statement.

(Reporting by William James; editing by Elizabeth Piper)