Canada conducts first anti-ISIS airstrikes in Iraq (Video)

Canada’s first airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq destroyed construction vehicles used by the terror group to build ground defences.

Canada launched its first airstrikes on Sunday, the Department of National Defence confirmed. Two CF-18s dropped 500-pound laser-guided bombs near the Iraqi city of Fallujah in a mission that lasted about four hours.

“Today’s strike demonstrates our government’s firm resolve to tackle the threat of terrorism and to stand with our allies against ISIL’s atrocities against innocent women, children and men, ” said the minister in a statement.

Coordinated with its coalition partners, two CF-18s attacked ISIL targets with GBU12 500 lb laser guided bombs in the vicinity of Fallujah, Iraq. The approximately four-hour mission included air-to-air refueling from Canada’s Polaris aircraft. All aircraft returned safely to their base.

In June this year, Iraq was added to the list of Canada’s development country partners. Two months later, Canada provided Iraqi security forces with military equipment to fight against ISIL, which has been carrying out a murderous rampage in northern Iraq since early this year.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in the Parliament in August that ISIL is a threat not only to peace and security in the region, but to global security as well.

Late last month, six Canadian CF-18 hornet fighters flew to Kuwait to join in military strike against ISIL in Iraq.

Agencies/Canadajournal