Germany's Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, on Thursday extended two overseas missions of the country's armed forces in the Mediterranean, the EU's Med Irini mission and NATO's Sea Guardian mission.

The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation Irini, or Med Irini, mission enforces the UN arms embargo on Libya. Up to 300 soldiers stationed off the Libyan coast are also tasked with taking action against smugglers and human traffickers.

Sea Guardian's task is to monitor the Mediterranean in a bid to combat terrorism and arms smuggling and secure the southern flank of NATO. Up to 550 German soldiers can be deployed for this purpose.