Operation Impact

On 3 October 2014, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that he would put forth a motion to send forces to participate in the coalition for military intervention against ISIL by deploying combat aircraft. On 7 October 2014, the House of Commons approved of sending nine aircraft to join coalition airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq along with 69 special forces advisors to train the Iraqi government's military. The Canadian Armed Forces' contribution to the coalition against ISIL was later dubbed Operation Impact. On 30 March 2015, the House of Commons voted to extend the mission to targets in Syria. No additional forces were announced.

In late November 2015, new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the withdrawal of Canada's fighter aircraft from the fight against ISIL, but their surveillance and transport and refuelling aircraft would remain in the area. All airstrikes by the Canadian fighter aircraft ended as of 15 February 2016. As part of the Canadian reorganization of the operation in February 2016, it was announced the number of military trainers would triple to a total of 600 ground personnel. This force was later augmented in mid-May 2016 by three Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

On 20 July 2016, it was announced by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan that Canada was deploying a field hospital in support of United States and French troops in their effort to retake Mosul. The hospital requires 60 personnel, however the Minister said that the number of committed to the overall operation would not climb. The hospital's deployment would be for one year.

On 7 January 2020, the Canadian Armed Forces announced that Operation Impact would be suspended following the assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Iraq earlier in the month, with some non-essential personnel being moved to Kuwait. On 16 January, it was announced that operations had resumed.

In March 2021, the Canadian government extended the military mission against the remnants of ISIS by another year, and pledged to commit $43.6 million to stabilization programs in Iraq and Syria. The mission was once again extended by one year in March 2022.

Airstrikes

Decision

On 4 September 2014, the Canadian government announced that it would deploy up to 100 special forces to Iraq in a non-combat advisory role to the military operation against ISIL in Iraq. Later it was confirmed that 69 Canadian forces were operating in Iraq.

On 3 October 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a motion in the House of Commons that it was Canada's intent to send six CF-18 fighter jets and support aircraft for up to six months to attack ISIL in Iraq as part of the coalition to defeat ISIL. "In the territory ISIL has occupied, it has conducted a campaign of unspeakable atrocities against the most innocent of people", also ISIL "has specifically targeted Canada and Canadians", Harper said.

Harper left open the possibility of Canadian involvement also in the US-led intervention in Syria against ISIL, but on the condition that Syria's government would approve of it.

On 7 October, the House of Commons voted in favour of sending six CF-18 fighter jets, an air-to-air refueling aircraft and two surveillance aircraft to join coalition airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq, to conduct targeted airstrikes from an allied air base in Kuwait.

In Iraq

2014

The first Canadian airstrike against an Islamic State target in Iraq occurred on 2 November 2014.
It was reported that CF-18s successfully destroyed heavy engineering or construction equipment used to divert the Euphrates River near the city of Fallujah.

On 11 November, CF-18s dropped laser guided bombs near the city of Baiji, in Northern Iraq. The Department of National Defence stated that the strike targeted equipment that could have been used to attack coalition assets. On 17 November, a warehouse used by ISIS was struck by CF-18s. It was believed to be a site for the construction of roadside bombs. On 19 November 2014, two CF-18s attacked ISIL positions northwest of Kirkuk. On 27 November 2014, it was confirmed that Canadian jets had not performed any air strikes for several days, but continued to provide escort for coalition cargo flights. On 28 November, Canadian CF-18s supported Iraqi security force operations around Hīt in Anbar Province, performing strikes against ISIL positions. On 30 November Canadian fighter jets struck ISIL forces southeast of Mosul in an area controlled by the group.

Striking ISIL forces near Mosul, CF-18s from Canada attacked mortar positions and an armoured car. Canadian CF-18s continued to partake in coalition attacks, striking ISIL positions consisting of two bunkers and two machine gun emplacement northeast of Mosul on 5 December. Two CF-18s struck ISIL positions east of Al Qa'im, destroying a bunker on 10 December. They were supported by a CP-140 Aurora performing reconnaissance.

Airstrikes intensified later in December, with ISIL targets successfully struck on 17 December, 19 December, 20 December, 22 December and 24 December. Canadian airstrikes continued, attacking near Fallujah on 31 December.

2015

Canadian aircraft attacked ISIL targets in two separate areas on 1 January 2015, northwest of Baghdad and around Al-Qa'im. Canadian airstrikes continued, supporting coalition ground operations around Haditha on 8 January 2015 and near Ramadi on 9 January. They supported coalition troops again on 10 January near Haditha and on 11 and 12 January south of Bayji.

An airstrike on an ISIL position along a highway northwest of Mosul was performed on 21 January in support of efforts to retake the road. Claims that between 6 and 27 civilians were killed surfaced, which led to an investigation by the United States military. The claims were deemed not justifiable by the Canadian Armed Forces and was not investigated by that force. CF-18s continued to attack ISIL positions on 23 January, striking in conjunction with coalition ground forces northeast of Mosul. On 24 January, they attacked ISIL forces southeast of Mosul and on 25 January, supported ground operations northeast of Mosul. On 29 January, Canadian CF-18s attacked two ISIL positions and two vehicles. Following that on 30 January, they bombed an ISIL position northwest of Baghdad.

On 3 February, CF-18s bombed an ISIL explosives factory southwest of Mosul and on 5 February, Canadian jets struck an ISIL compound northwest of Baghdad. On 6 February, attacks were made on ISIL positions northwest of Mosul. These were followed on 7 February with bombing missions on ISIL fighting positions northeast of Mosul and around Baiji. From 26 January to 12 February the RCAF performed 14 airstrikes in total.

After a break, Canadian strikes resumed on 24 February, hitting three targets north of Mosul. On 7 March, Canadian jets struck ISIL positions south of Kirkuk and on 8 March, hit sites southeast of Haditha. On 9 March, Canadian airstrikes continued, attacking sites west of Kirkuk. On 19 March, CF-18s hit a reported ISIL bomb-making factory near Kirkuk and struck ISIL positions east of Mosul on 20 March.

On 4 April 2015, Canadian CF-18s hit an IED factory west of Mosul while supporting coalition operations. CF-18s attacked ISIL positions near Sinjar on 9 April. On 25 April, two CF-18s struck ISIL staging areas in Kharbani and on 26 April, hit fighting positions east and west of Fallujah. On 6 May, air strikes were made on ISIL positions north of Bayji, followed up by a strike against an ISIL bomb installation on 8 May southeast of Haditha. A CF-18 returned to Bayji on 9 May, hitting ISIL fighting positions. On 27 May, CF-18s struck an ISIL fighting position south of Mosul. Two days later, on 29 May, they attacked ISIL fighting positions northwest of Tal Afar

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