German MPs extend military missions until spring

German lawmakers have extended the military’s participation in missions against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and in Afghanistan, Mali and Iraq until the spring of 2018. Such missions abroad require parliamentary approval, usually on an annual basis. Since Germany hasn’t yet formed a new government after an election in September, the mandates approved on Tuesday were limited to the end of March or April, AP said. The next government is expected to decide on extending them further. The extension was approved for the deployment of Jordan-based reconnaissance and refueling planes in the campaign against IS, and the deployment of troops in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. The decision also concerns the UN stabilization mission in Mali and German experts helping to train Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.