Germany's Bundestag extends four armed forces missions abroad

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Germany's Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, late on Thursday extended four overseas missions of the country's armed forces, just weeks before the parliamentary election on February 23.

The German Navy will continue to participate in the European Union military mission in the Red Sea aimed at protecting the important maritime shipping route from attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

The Bundestag extended the mandate for Germany's participation in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until October 31.

Germany will also continue to participate in the EU naval mission to enforce the UN's arms embargo on Libya - the EUNAVFOR Med Irini mission - and NATO's Sea Guardian mission to monitor the Mediterranean, part of an effort to fight against terrorism and arms smuggling.

The Cabinet had initiated the mandate extensions at the beginning of December to ensure that German soldiers would be deployed despite the early parliamentary elections. All measures passed with a strong majority.