MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Germany is expected to vote on Friday on whether or not to send six Tornado reconnaissance aircraft to Syria, despite a military report revealing that less than half of Germany's Tornados were operational, with only 29 out of the total fleet of 93 combat-ready.
"All of the 30 Tornados are combat worthy… ready for deployment for the mission," Wieker told reporters, adding that a frigate is also ready for deployment in the mission.
It is thought that Germany's anti-IS mission to Syria may last until December 31, 2016, with up to 1,200 Bundeswehr service personnel also expected to be involved. The deployed frigate will support France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier sent to the eastern Mediterranean mid-November.
Germany is a part of the United States-led anti-IS coalition in Syria. The coalition has been conducting airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria since September 2014 without the Syrian government's consent. Moscow is conducting its own mission in Syria against the IS group, which is outlawed in Russia.
