Canadian planes carry out first strikes in Syria against ISIS

PUBLISHED ON APR 9, 2015 8:18 AM

A Canadian soldier standing on board a ship at Constanta harbour, Romania, on March 13, 2015. Canada carried out its first air strikes in Syria on Wednesday, expanding Ottawa's contribution to the US-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. -- PHOTO: AFP 

OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada carried out its first air strikes in Syria on Wednesday, the military said, expanding Ottawa's contribution to the US-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), after parliament approved a larger role in the conflict.

Two F-18s using precision-guided munitions struck an ISIS position near the Syrian city of Raqqa, before safely returning to base, the military announced.

The strike near Raqqa, an ISIS stronghold, war carried out with a group of 10 aircraft, including six US planes.

Canadian strikes had been limited to Iraqi territory, but at the end of March, Canadian lawmakers narrowly passed a measure to allow the country's aircraft to target ISIS targets in Syria.