The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1), in particular for a vehicle, having at least one exhaust gas recirculation line (13) for externally recirculating exhaust gases from an exhaust gas side of the internal combustion engine (1) to a fresh air side of the internal combustion engine (1). To provide a cost-effective and compact design, a combination valve (14) is situated in the exhaust gas recirculation line (13), said combination valve (14) serving to set the quantity of the exhaust has recirculated from the exhaust gas side to the fresh air side and to block a counterflow from the fresh air side in the direction of the exhaust gas side.