Vicki L MorrisonToday Colonel Daniel Constable, Commander of Joint Task Force – Iraq hosted a technical briefing to provide and update on Canadian Combat Operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Thanks to the work of the Coalition forces ISIL remains on the defensive, ISIL ground soldiers remain spread thin, without the ability to mass together in any meaningful way.
“I am proud of every member of our task force. We continue to meet our mission of degrading ISIL, while supporting Iraqi forces,” said Constable.
In just over one week several assigned missions were accomplished by the 600 Canadian Armed Forces members currently deployed to Iraq.
Coalition aircraft were tasked with dropping humanitarian aid. Their mission required low altitudes flights, leaving them vulnerable to ISIL surface to air weapons. As protection they were escorted in by CF18 fighter planes. The CF18 planes acted as top cover and the mission reached a successful conclusion. Water, tents, and blankets were dropped to Iraqi civilians on the ground.
CP140 Aurora aircraft continued to act as the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support platform for Coalition missions.
“The modernized Auroras have access to vast amounts of information using better radar and high grade images. With this information we build a picture to better understand the battle space we are working in,” said Carpenter.
The C150 Polaris air-to-air refueller has delivered over 970,000 pounds of fuel to CF18 aircraft, United States Navy aircraft, as well as British and Australian planes. According to Carpenter this in-flight method of fuel delivery allows the Coalition forces to stay operational longer, putting continued pressure on ISIL.
“Our mission this week did not include bombing. The escort of humanitarian aid was our task. We met all of our objectives due to outstanding work on the part of Canadian military members,” said Carpenter.
ISIL is an extremist militant group advocating radical interpretations of Islam and claims religious authority over all Muslims. It aims to create a caliphate in the Levant region, which includes Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus and a part of southern Turkey by converting or killing non-Sunni populations.
ISIL’s ultimate objective is the establishment of a world-wide Islamic caliphate, or state led by a supreme religious leader. As a result, a United States led Coalition that includes Canada and many of Canada’s closest allies and partners, are conducting joint operations to degrade ISIL.
Get More! Receive six issues of Canadian Military Family Magazine in your mail box for only $17.95! Click here to subscribe NOW.
