German cabinet backs plans to join military campaign against IS in Syria

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet agreed on Tuesday on plans to join the military campaign against Islamic State in Syria, a government official said. Under the plans, Germany will deploy Tornado reconnaissance jets, refuelling aircraft, a frigate and up to 1,200 military personnel to the region. The Bundestag lower house of parliament will hold a vote on Wednesday. Merkel's cabinet is made up of her own conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), with whom she shares power. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Caroline Copley)