A Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Boeing F/A-18C (CF-18/CF-188)
Hornet fighter aircraft being refuelled over Iraq during Operation
'Impact' against the Islamic State. Source: Royal Canadian Air Force
An undisclosed number of Boeing F/A-18C (CF-18/CF-188) Hornet fighter aircraft attacked targets in and around the organisation's capital of Raqqa in what the DND described as a "successful" strike. All the aircraft returned safely to their operating base in Kuwait.
News of the raid comes some two weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked the House of Commons to authorise an expansion of the country's air campaign against the Islamic State from Iraq and into Syria, as well as an extension for a further year at least.
When Harper spoke to parliament on 24 March, he said Canada would inform the Syrian government of its operations over the country, but that it would not ask for permission.
Dubbed Operation 'Impact', Canada's mission against the Islamic State involves 69 personnel, and consists of six Hornet fighters, two Lockheed Martin P-3 (CP-140) Aurora surveillance aircraft, one Airbus A310 (CC-150T) Polaris aerial refuelling tanker, one Boeing C-17 (CC-177) Globemaster III strategic airlifter, and one Lockheed Martin C-130J (CC-130J) Hercules tactical transport aircraft.
As of 7 April, the Royal Canadian Air Force had conducted 743 sorties over Iraq, of which 484 were flown by the Hornets.
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