Berlin (dpa) - Sunday marked the start of Germany's involvement in the international fight against the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group, when a naval frigate carrying 230 soldiers joined French military in the south-east Mediterranean.

The vessel arrived at midnight on Sunday to begin accompanying France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier as it is transported along Egypt's Suez Canal to the Arabian Sea, a military spokesman said.

From there, France aims to carry out airstrikes targetting Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

The German frigate, named Augsburg and based on the country's northern coast, had previously been involved in operation Sophia, which combats human trafficking in the Mediterranean.

Germany can deploy a maximum of 1,200 soldiers in the fight against Islamic State.