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German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) and Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen walk during a session of the Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament, in Berlin, Dec. 4, 2015. The German Bundestag lower house of parliament approved government plans to deploy up to 1,200 soldiers, Tornado reconnaissance jets, refueling aircraft and a frigate as part of the military campaign against the Islamic State group. Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Germany's lower house of parliament on Friday approved government plans to join the military campaign against Islamic State in Syria. Of the 598 lawmakers who took part in the vote, 445 voted for, 146 against and seven abstained.

The mission will include sending six Tornado reconnaissance jets, a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, refueling aircraft and up to 1,200 military personnel. Germany will not join countries like Britain, France, the United States and Russia in conducting airstrikes.

(Reporting by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Noah Barkin)

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