Germany's parliament is due to vote on whether the country should provide military support in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, BBC News reports.

MPs are expected to back the controversial plan. Tornado reconnaissance aircraft, a naval frigate and 1,200 soldiers will then be sent to the region. But German forces will not engage in combat.

The vote comes after a French appeal following last month's Paris attacks.

On Thursday, December 3, British warplanes carried out their first air strikes on IS targets in Syria after the country's parliament authorised the military operation.

If approved, this would become Germany's biggest current military operation abroad. The mandate will initially last a year and will cost €134m ($146m).

It will involve Tornado reconnaissance jets, refuelling aircraft and the naval frigate Sachsen, which will help support the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean.