German Defence Minister says coalition against Islamic State still "essential"

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Thursday underlined the importance of continuing the mission against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. 

She said she viewed the presence of the Bundeswehr as "absolutely essential" during her visit to the Operations Command of the Bundeswehr in Geltow near Berlin. 

The German Bundestag is set to decide whether to extend its mandate for the mission in Syria and Iraq in the autumn. The mandate for the mission ends on 31 October. Kramp-Karrenbauer said the Bundestag would then need to take stock of how successful the pushback against Islamic State militants has been.

The German army is part of an international coalition fighting against Islamic State. German military training units are also stationed in Iraq. 

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas voiced his support for extending the mandate in June. "The mandate is definitely still imperative, in order to avoid Islamic State building new structures underground, which would make it able to act again," Maas said during his visit to Iraq. 

Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Thursday that she agreed with Maas' position. She is set to make her first visit as defence minister to Iraq and Jordan in August. There are 440 German soldiers stationed there. 

Around 60 countries belong to the coalition fighting Islamic State. (dpa)