German airforce runs first refuelling mission over Syria

Berlin: Germany's military staged its first aerial refuelling mission of allied fighter jets targeting
Syria's Islamic State jihadist group, the armed forces said today.

The A310 MRTT refuelled two combat aircraft yesterday
before returning from its five-hour mission shortly after
midnight to the southern Turkey military base at Incirlik,
said a Bundeswehr spokesman, without identifying the other
planes involved.

The tanker aircraft is part of Berlin's deployment to aid
the multinational anti-IS coalition, which also includes six
German Tornado surveillance jets, a frigate helping protect
the French Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and up to 1,200
troops.

Unlike France, the United States and Britain, Germany is
not conducting bombing missions.