OTTAWA — The Canadian military reported 18 new air strikes against targets belonging to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, but none in the latest round involve missions over Syria.
In the three months since Parliament granted an expansion of the air campaign only three attacks have been conducted against what the Harper government sometimes described as the heart of the extremist movement.
The U.S.-led coalition has stepped up both the level of bombing and the public relations campaign since Islamic State forces dealt a surprise blow to the Iraqi government and seized took control of the strategically important city of Ramadi.
Canadian navy Capt. Paul Forget says it’s clear that the tempo of CF-18 missions has increased along with its allies, but he offered no explanation for the dearth of Syrian missions.
He did say the Canadian air task force takes its target lists from the coalition headquarters in Qatar.
Much of the debate about extending and expanding Canada’s combat mission in Iraq was focused on the advisability and the legalities of bombing ISIL in Syria.