Canada Carries out its 1st Airstrikes against ’ISIL’

Local Editor

The Canadian Air Force has completed its first strike against the "ISIL" militants in Iraq. Poor weather had previously hampered combat missions as currently Canadian fighter jets aren't armed with all-weather laser-guided bombs.

"Coordinated with our coalition partners, two CF-18s [Hornet fighter jets]) attacked ISIL targets with GBU-12 laser-guided bombs in the vicinity of Fallujah, Iraq," said a statement issued by Canadian Defense Minister Rob Nicholson.

The mission included air-to-air refueling from Canada's Polaris aircraft. All aircraft returned safely to their base."
The outcome of the airstrike, which was the Canadian Air Force's first combat action since the war in Libya three years ago, is still being assessed.
"We are all proud about the first strike," an officer in Ottawa familiar with the operation told Canada.com.

"We have established an air bridge between Canada and Kuwait and expect them to arrive and be used in the coming days," said Lt.-Col. David Devenney, Director of Public Affairs for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Last week, Canada's Department of National Defense purchased 400 bomb-guidance kits from the US, which make ‘smart' bombs operate flawlessly in poor weather conditions.

In the meantime, Canadian pilots are getting used to the Iraqi terrain and cooperating with aircraft and land control structures from the 11 countries that form the anti-"ISIL" coalition.
In early October, Canadian lawmakers voted in support of joining the US-led international coalition against the "ISIL".

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stressed the nation's troops won't take part in any ground operation against the "ISIL".

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team