Canada authorizes air strikes in Iraq
9 Oct 2014 6:43 AM IST
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party introduced the motion last week and it was debated this week. Harper has a majority of seats in Parliament so the vote was all but assured. The motion passed on Tuesday 157-134. The motion authorizes air strikes in Iraq for up to six months and explicitly states that no ground troops be used in combat operations.
The combat mission includes up to six CF-18 fighter jets, a refueling tanker aircraft, two surveillance planes and one airlift aircraft. About 600 airmen and airwomen will be involved.
Canada is among dozens of countries that have joined the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant group. ‘The threat posed by ISIL is real,’ Harper said, referring to the ISIS by one of its acronyms. ‘If left unchecked this terrorist organization will grow and grow quickly. They have already voiced their local and international terrorist intentions and identified Canada as a potential target.’
The combat mission includes up to six CF-18 fighter jets, a refueling tanker aircraft, two surveillance planes and one airlift aircraft. About 600 airmen and airwomen will be involved.
Canada is among dozens of countries that have joined the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant group. ‘The threat posed by ISIL is real,’ Harper said, referring to the ISIS by one of its acronyms. ‘If left unchecked this terrorist organization will grow and grow quickly. They have already voiced their local and international terrorist intentions and identified Canada as a potential target.’
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