Can Germany take part in the military deployment in Syria and if so, how? According to the Bild tabloid, German’s Secretary of Defense Ursula von der Leyen had ordered to examine these questions. The aim of a potential operation should be the prevention of the illegal use of chemical weapons by President Assad’s troops against the civil population in the cut off city of Idlib – or to react should such an operation occur.

SPD chairwoman Andrea Nahles announced that “a participation of Germany in the war in Syria” would not be supported by the Socialdemocrats on the evening of the same. This message was reconfirmed on Monday following a meeting of the party steering committee.