"The government today approved the mandate for the prospective German military deployment until April 30, 2021. This will, of course, require a green light from the Bundestag," Steffen Seibert told reporters at a briefing.
The government plans to send P3C-Orion surveillance planes to monitor the Libyan waters, according to the government directive, seen by the public broadcaster ARD. A navy ship will be dispatched to the area by August.
Operation Irini was launched on April 1 in place of Operation Sophia, which focused on efforts to curb human trafficking.
The new mission also aims to stem illicit oil smuggling from Libya.