Canadian warplanes involved in the American-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq on Sunday launched the first airstrike since deploying to the region, the Canadian Press reported.
Two CF-18 fighter jets attacked targets in the vicinity of Fallujah, a statement from Canadian Defense Minister Rob Nicholson’s office said.
“Coordinated with our coalition partners, two CF-18s attacked [ISIS] targets with GBU12 500 lb laser guided bombs,” the statement said, according to the Canadian Press.
“The approximately four hour mission included air-to-air refueling from Canada’s Polaris aircraft.”
The three aircraft all safely returned to their base in Kuwait, the statement added.
Few other details of the strike were immediately released, but the statement said assessment of the damage was being done. Fallujah is roughly 70 kilometers west of Baghdad.
Canada has deployed a total of six CF-18s along with the C-150 Polaris and two CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft as its contribution to the American-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State, which has occupied parts of Iraq and Syria.
The CF-18s, also called Hornets, left Canada on October 21. Some 600 personnel are involved in the air combat mission. Canada has also shipped about one million kilograms of military supplies to Iraqi security forces, who it is also helping train.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is known for his hawkish views with regards to terrorism, said several weeks ago that ISIS is a direct threat to Canada and the world, and therefore Canada will take part in the coalition against the group.
The Prime Minister’s move was met by sharp criticism from Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau acknowledged that ISIS is a "threat to regional and global security" in a recent speech, but added, "Mr. Harper has made no effort to build a non-partisan case for war," claiming a parallel to the 2003 Iraq war he termed the "Iraq fiasco."