No longer bombing, Canadian planes identifying ISIL targets in Syria
PERSIAN GULF — Canadian military aircraft are once again over the skies of Syria, helping to identify targets in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant months after the Liberals pulled fighter jets from the mission.
It has been one year since Canadian CF-18 fighter jets flew their last mission over Syria after the Liberals withdrew the planes in favour of a mission to train local forces and help rebuild areas affected by fighting.
While the revamped mission against ISIL includes a mandate to operate over Syria, military officials have been reluctant to confirm whether Canada’s surveillance and refuelling planes are operating over the country.
Two Canadian surveillance planes have flown hundreds of sorties to identify potential targets for coalition airstrikes, the majority of which have been in Iraq.