Canada in Iraq: RCAF Strikes 2 ISIS Targets

Even though Canadian CF-18s will be ending their bombing of ISIS targets wby February 22, 2016 - they have not let up in the final days of their deployment.

In a press release on its OP IMPACT webpage, DND announced that on 10 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS weapons cache in the vicinity of Al Habbaniyah using precision guided munitions.

Also on 10 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISISL fighting position north of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Canada in Iraq: Four RCAF Airstrikes on ISIS in Ramadi

The first weekend of Feburary was a busy weekend for the RCAF in Iraq. In a press release on its OP IMPACT webpage, DND announced that on 6 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck ISIS heavy engineering equipment in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Also on 6 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position north of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Previously on 5 February 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS staging area and weapons cache in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

The announcement of these airstrikes comes as Prime Minister Trudeau announced that RCAF CF-18s will end airstrikes against ISIS on February 22, 2016.

Canada in Iraq: RCAF Targets ISIS Fighting Position near Ramadi

In a press release on its OP IMPACT webpage, DND announced that on 30 January 2016, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position northeast of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

No further details were released. 

Canada in Iraq: RCAF Airstrike near Ramadi

In a press release on it's OP IMPACT webpage, DND announced that on 8 January 2016, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position southeast of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Canada in Iraq: RCAF Targets 3 ISIS Fighting Positions near Haditha and Ramadi

In a statement on it's OP IMPACT webpage, DND announced that on 7 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS fighting positions southeast of Haditha using precision guided munitions.

Also on 7 January 2016, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS facility used as a staging area and for vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) storage in Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Den Tandt: Predicts CF-18s will Remain in Iraq

One of Michael Den Tandt's predictions for 2016 is that the Liberal Government will go back on at least one election promise, and it has to do with its decision to withdraw the CF-18s from Iraq.

In his 2016 Prediction opinion piece in the Ottawa Citizen, Den Tandt, says, "Trudeau and his cabinet will reverse course on a couple of major policy files early in 2016. The first will be their pledge to withdraw Canadian CF-18 fighters from the battle against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant."

That could possibly happen, seeing has the US-led coalition has made big impacts over the past few weeks, helping Iraqi forces retake Ramadi, and planning on helping more in Mosul in the coming weeks.

The RCAF has conducted  17 airstrikes since December 23rd,  2015; mainly in the vicinity of Mosul, as well as Sinjar, Kisik, and Ramadi.

Canada in.Iraq: RCAF targets 7 ISIS Positions & 2015 OP IMPACT numbers

The RCAF was active over New Years in Iraq. According to its OP IMPACT webpage, the RCAF targeted 7 ISIS fighting positions leading up to New Years and on New Years Day.

On 30 December 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position south east of Sinjar, Iraq, using precision guided munitions.

On 31 Dec 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position north-west of Mosul, using precision guided munitions. Also on December 31, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position near Kisik, using precision guided munitions.

On 1 January 2016, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck four ISIS fighting positions with precision guided munitions.

As of 31 December 2015, Air Task Force-Iraq conducted 1955 sorties:
CF-188 Hornet fighters conducted 1249 sorties;
CC-150T Polaris aerial refueller conducted 337 sorties, delivering some 19,724,000 pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft; and
CP-140 Aurora aircraft conducted 368 reconnaissance missions.

Canada in Iraq: 6 RCAF Airstrikes over Christmas Holidays

After a brief hiatus over the holidays, I should be posting more regular CAF News moving forward into the new year.

In brief press releases on its OP IMPACT webpage, DND announced that on the 23rd of December 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces’ offensive operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions. The RCAF and coalition attacks helped Iraqi forces retake Ramadi nearly a year after it fell to ISIS.

Then on the 24th of December 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position east of Mosul using precision guided munitions. Also on the 24th, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS fighting positions west of Tal Afar using precision guided munitions.

A U.S. military official in Iraq says that coalition airstrikes killed 10 Islamic State leaders over the past month, including several linked to the Paris attacks or other plots against the West.

U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren says they were killed mainly by drone strikes in Iraq and Syria. He offered few details, but said at least two of those killed were linked to the Paris attacks. He says one was directly tied to those who planned the violence in Paris and was actively planning other assaults against the West. Most appeared to be mid-level leaders.

Warren says that one of the others killed was from Bangladesh but spent time in Britain and was a hacker for the Islamic State group and co-ordinated anti-surveillance technology.

On Christmas day, December 25, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position west of Makhmur using precision guided munitions.

The most recent involvement by the RCAF was on December 27,  2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting positions south east of Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

Canada in Iraq: RCAF Conduct Airstrike against ISIS Fighting Position

In a press release on it's OP IMPACT webpage, DND announced that on, 9 December 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces’ offensive operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Canada in Iraq: RCAF Strike ISIS Position near Ramadi

On 25 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes to increase Iraqi security forces' freedom of movement in the region, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions. 

Meanwhile, the Canadian Armed Forces is reviewing information about a Nov. 19 airstrike, which is alleged to have caused civilian casualties. It is unclear which air force may have been involved.

The CAF originally noted that it was confident that its bombs did not injure or kill civilians.

Local Iraqi media reports indicate that bombs hit both an Islamic State facility in Mosul as well as a nearby dairy. Between five and 13 people at the dairy were reportedly killed.

“Whenever we obtain new information regarding potential allegations of civilian casualties, we conduct a review of all available information,” according to Capt. Kirk Sullivan in a note to Defence Watch. “The CAF, in conjunction with U.S. CENTCOM, is currently reviewing all available and credible information regarding the potential allegations of civilian casualties as a result of this airstrike. No additional information is available at this time.”

“The airstrike by CF-18 Hornets on November 19 served to increase Iraqi security forces’ freedom of movement in the region by eliminating an ISIS Improvised Explosive Device factory, reducing the threat posed by ISIS to civilians and members of the Iraqi security forces,” Sullivan added.

Canada in Iraq: RCAF Strikes 3 ISIS Positions near Ramadi

Written by The Associated Press

Two Canadian fighter jets successfully struck three Islamic State fighting positions near the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Tuesday, according to the Department of Defence.

The CF-18 Hornets struck the ISIS positions with precision-guided munitions during two separate airstrikes, the department said in a statement.

The Canadian aircraft are part taking part in the U.S.-led coalition campaign against ISIS. The airstrikes are being conducted in support of Iraqi security forces. 

A Royal Canadian Air Force Air Weapon Systems Technician, deployed as part of Air Task Force – Iraq, prepares munitions for loading to a CF-188 Hornet, at the Camp Patrice Vincent flight line in Kuwait, during Operation IMPACT on August 1, 2015. Photo: CAF Combat Camera - OP IMPACT KW02-2015-0163-001

Tuesday's airstrikes are the second round involving Canadian jets since the Nov. 13 terror attacks in Paris killed at least 129 people and wounded at least 350 others. ISIS has claimed responsibility for Friday's attacks in the French capital. The extremist group also claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings in Beirut, which killed 43 people the day before.

After the terror attacks, many questioned whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would keep his election campaign promise to withdraw the jets before the end of the government’s previously set commitment of March 2016.

Trudeau reiterated his position on Monday, stating that Canada will focus its efforts on training local troops to fight ISIS, instead of continuing to participate in the air campaign. He added that Canada will increase the number of special trainers it has in Iraq, up from the current number of 69.

The prime minister's announcement came as French President Francois Hollande and U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to ramp up the assault against ISIS.

On Monday, Hollande spoke during a special session of Parliament, where he said the country was at war.

During the speech, he asked French lawmakers to vote on a bill extending the state of emergency for three months, and asked for changes to the constitution to help "destroy terrorism."

France has launched more airstrikes in the wake of the violence that rippled across Paris last Friday. Hollande said Monday that he would be meeting with Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month to discuss how to combat ISIS.

Meanwhile, Obama acknowledged Monday that the attacks in Paris represented a "sickening setback," but said he won't commit to a large-scale presence of U.S. troops on the ground. He said sending in a large military presence would result in a permanent occupation in Syria and Iraq.

Currently, Canada has contributed six CF-18 Hornet fighter jets, two Aurora surveillance planes and approximately 600 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to the coalition.

Canada in Iraq: 3 Airstrikes by RCAF near Ramadi against ISIS

As the world reacts to the ISIS attacks in Paris; it is comforting to know that coalition attacks were continuing yesterday in Iraq. Despite Friday's news that priority number one for the new Minister of Defence is to withdraw Canadian CF-18s from the fight - the RCAF was active again yesterday, and attacked three separate ISIS positions.

On 13 November 2015, while taking part in coalition airstrikes in support of Iraqi security forces operations to clear ISIS from Ramadi, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS compound and two separate ISIS fighting positions in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Canada in Iraq: 7 Airstrikes by RCAF in November

With the New Government officially sworn in, Air Task Force Iraq's days are numbered according to the most recent information coming out of DND. That news hasn't stopped the RCAF from continuing their fights against ISIS. 

On 5 November 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS compounds southwest of Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

On 6 November 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On 6 November 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS fighting positions north of Fallujah using precision guided munitions.

On 7 November 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position southeast of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

On 7 November 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position south of Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

Canada in Iraq: RCAF Strike Two ISIS Positions

Air Task Force Iraq was active again Friday over Iraq. despite the fact that the Task Force will receive its stand-down orders from the new Government in the near future, the RCAF is continuing its fight against ISIS.

According to a statement from the Department of National Defence, two CF-18 Hornet aircraft struck an ISIS fighting position and an ISIS ammunition cache northeast of Ramadi on October 23, 2015.

Canada in Iraq: Two RCAF CF-18s Conduct Airstrike near Ramadi

Despite the looming stand down of Air Task Force Iraq, part of OP IMPACT; Canada is continuing its fight against ISIS. The RCAF CF-18s were at it again yesterday. 

The Information released from DND:
On 21 October 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position west of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

Canada in Iraq: 4 RCAF Thanksgiving Airstrikes against ISIS

This Thanksgiving Weekend, the RCAF has struck 4 ISIS positions. 

On 11 Oct 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position northeast of Tal Afar using precision guided munitions.

On 10 October 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) northeast of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

On 10 October 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position northeast of Tal Afar using precision guided munitions

Canada in Iraq: September RCAF Airstrikes Against ISIS

It was a busier start to September for the RCAF CF-18's in Iraq than August was.  The six CF-18's were deployed on twenty airstrike sorties in Iraq. Despite an increase in coalition strikes in Syria; and France and Australia expanding into Syria - the RCAF did not conduct any airstrikes in Syria.

RCAF CF-18s in Kuwait. Photo: RCAF (Archive) 

1 Sept 2015
On 1 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

2 Sept 2015
On 2 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

3 Sept 2015
On 3 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

4 Sept 2015
On 4 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Ramadi using precision guided munitions.

9 Sept 2015
On 9 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS fighting positions in Sinjar using precision guided munitions.

10 Sept 2015
On 10 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position northeast of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

23 Sept 2015
On 23 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory in Mosul using precision guided munitions.

26 Sept 2015
On 26 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, four CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an Improvised Explosive Device factory in Hit using precision guided munitions.

On 26 September 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Mosul using precision guided munitions.

RCAF July 2015 Airstrike Update

An Update on the RCAF's Airstrikes against ISIS for July 2015. All in Iraq, with one in Syria.

On July 2, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck three ISIS fighting positions; one Northwest of Tal Afar; one Northeast of Tal Afar; and one in the vicinity of Sinjar.

On July 3, 2015- RCAF CF-18s struck three ISIS fighting positions; one in the vicinity of Sinjar; one Southeast of Mosul; and one Northwest of Mosul.

On July 4, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted an ISIS fighting position Southeast of Fallujah.

On July 5, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted an ISIS fighting position Southeast of Fallujah.

On July 10, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted and ISIS fighting position Northeast of Fallujah.

On July 11, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted two ISIS fighting positions; one Northeast of Fallujah; and one Southeast of Fallujah.

On July 12, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck an ISIS fighting position in the vicinity of Ramadi.

On July 15, 2015- RCAF CF-18s struck an ISIS fighting position Northwest of Tal Afar.

On July 16, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck an ISIS fighting position Northwest of Mosul.

On July 17, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck an ISIS fighting position Northwest of Tal Afar.

On July 18, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck two ISIS fighting positions; one within the vicinity of Ramadi; and another Northeast of Sinjar.

On July 19, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted an ISIS transport vehicle Northwest of Tal Afar.

On July 21, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted an ISIS fighting position Southeast of Haditha.

On July 22, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted an ISIS fighting position Southeast of Mosul.

On July 23, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck and ISIS fighting position East of Mosul.

On July 24, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck an ISIS fighting position Northwest of Mosul.

On July 25, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck an ISIS staging area in Kirkuk.

On July 26, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted two ISIS fighting positions in Sinjar and Tal Afar.

On July 29, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck an ISIS fighting position Northwest of Haditha.

On July 30, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s struck and ISIS compound and an ISIS fighting position Northwest of Haditha.

On July 30, 2015 - RCAF CF-18s targeted an ISIS compound in Al Qa'am

On July 30, 2015 -  RCAF CF-18s targeted an ISIS compound North of Al Bukamal, Syria.