April 8, 2015 – OTTAWA – Today, Canada’s CF-18 Hornets conducted their first airstrike in Syria since the Government’s decision to extend and expand Operation IMPACT, Canada’s military contribution to the US-led coalition against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Following the planning and coordination process conducted with our coalition partners, two Canadian CF-18s, using precision-guided munitions, were involved in an airstrike against an ISIL garrison near Ar Raqqah, Syria. A total of 10 coalition aircraft, including six aircraft from the US were involved in this airstrike.

Quick Facts

• Canadian Armed Force aircrew and aircraft have safely returned to base.
• At the request of the Government of Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have extended their participation in the international efforts to support the security forces in the Republic of Iraq for a period of up to twelve months until March 30, 2016, and have expanded the conduct of airstrikes against ISIL capabilities to include the territories of Iraq and Syria.
• Though this was the first airstrike in Syria since the mission expansion, it was not the first air sortie. Three previous sorties have taken place over Syria since the Government expanded the CAF’s participation in the international coalition against ISIL. Air sorties provide valuable opportunities to assess new areas of operation.
• Within the Joint Task Force-Iraq, the Air Task Force-Iraq operates three types of aircraft. The CC-150T Polaris supports coalition air assets in the region with aerial refueling. The CP-140 Auroras conducts intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions based on identified and pre-determined areas of interest. The CF-18 Hornet conducts strikes missions using precision guided munitions. Strike missions are validated through a rigorous targeting process, are authorized by our own national chain of command, and comply with the Law of Armed Conflict.

Quotes

“This first airstrike under the expanded mandate demonstrates our Government’s firm resolve to tackle the threat of terrorism against Canada and to promote international security and stability. ISIL is a genocidal terrorist organization and we will deny them safe haven in the region. Canada is playing an important role in degrading ISIL’s capabilities in collaboration with the US-led international coalition.”
– Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence

“The CAF’s first airstrike against ISIL in Syria has been successfully completed. Canadians can be proud of the work that their Canadian Armed Forces are doing, and the contribution they are making to coalition efforts.”
– General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff

April 8th 2015 – Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq between 8 a.m., April 7, and 8 a.m., April 8, local time. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted two airstrikes, using bomber and attack aircraft. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted four airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, an airstrike struck four ISIL fighting positions.

* Near Kobani, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

Iraq

* Near Bayji, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

* Near Hit in Al Anbar Province, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Kirkuk, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Tal Afar, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle [see video] and an ISIL mortar system.

On April 6th Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq, between 8 a.m., April 6, and 8 a.m., April 7, local time. In Syria, Coalition military forces conducted three airstrikes, using bomber and remotely-piloted aircraft. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 12 airstrikes using attack, fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

“These strikes, like all those we’ve conducted in Iraq, were coordinated with and approved by the Government of Iraq,” said Col. Wayne Marotto, CJTF-OIR spokesman.”This coordination allows the Coalition to deliver precise strikes in support of the Iraqi Security Forces’ efforts to counter Daesh.”

The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Aleppo*, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Kobani, two airstrikes destroyed six ISIL fighting positions [see video].

Iraq

* Near Ar Rutbah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

* Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL vehicle and destroyed an ISIL excavator.

* Near Fallujah, three airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units, destroyed an ISIL excavator, an ISIL mortar tube, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL-created dam.

* Near Hit in Al Anbar Province, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL heavy machine guns, three ISIL buildings, an ISIL artillery piece and an ISIL mortar position.

* Near Tal Afar, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed four ISIL excavators.

As a correction to the April 7 press release in which an airstrike near Aleppo was described as striking an ISIL tactical unit, the tactical unit was part of a network of veteran al Qaida operatives, sometimes called the “Khorasan Group,” who are plotting external attacks against the United States and our allies.

De danske F-16-fly, der er udsendt som bidrag til Operation Inherent Resolve, har siden seneste opdatering 31. marts fløjet 11 missioner og anvendt 11 bomber.

Missionerne, som de danske fly har deltaget i, har været offensive, og de danske fly har i den forløbne periode primært deltaget i missioner i Al Anbar og Ninawa. Målene for bomberne har været fjendtlige styrker.

De danske fly har fløjet Close Air Support-missioner (CAS), hvor flyene er indsat direkte som luftstøtte til styrker på landjorden. Her vil flyene patruljere over et bestemt område, hvorefter de vil kunne blive indsat af koalitionen, når der er behov for støtte. Luftstøtten vil variere afhængig af, hvad der er behov for. Det kan både dreje sig om overvågningsopgaver og bombninger af mål.

På de missioner, hvor de danske F-16 ikke har anvendt våben, har de bidraget med overvågning og indhentning af efterretninger. På sådanne overvågningsmissioner er flyene dog altid klar til at anvende våben, hvis der er behov for det.

Siden første mission den 16. oktober 2014, har det danske bidrag i alt fløjet 274 missioner og anvendt 213 bomber. Alle de danske bomber er præcisionsstyrede, hvilket vil sige, at de styres mod deres mål ved hjælp af enten laser eller GPS.er i logistisk reserve) og op til ca. 140 mand. Lige nu er ca. 90 mand udsendt.

Nederlandse F-16’s vlogen 15 missies boven Irak en zetten wapens in tegen doelen van terreurorganisaties ISIS.

On April 5, Coalition military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria, using attack, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct five airstrikes. Separately in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted eight airstrikes approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, using attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists. All strikes took place between 8 a.m., April 5, and 8 a.m., April 6, local time. The following is a summary of the strikes conducted since the last press release:

Syria

* Near Al Hasakah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed eight

fighting positions, an ISIL tunnel system and an ISIL vehicle.

*Near Ar Raqqah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

* Near Kobani, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings.

Iraq

* Near Bayji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL heavy machine gun.

* Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

*Near Ramadi, three airstrikes [1 British] struck three ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL mortar positions and an ISIL sniper position.

Late on Sunday [April 5th], GR4s again provided air support to ground forces, this time to Iraqi military units near Ramadi which had come under fire from ISIL. A successful attack was conducted on the building using a Paveway IV.