Chronology: Canada's involvement in the fight against ISIS
Canada first made a delivery of military supplies to forces in Iraq in August 2014
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that Canada's airstrikes against ISIS would end by Feb. 22. Here is a chronological look at Canada's fight against militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS:
Aug. 7, 2014 — U.S. President Barack Obama authorizes targeted military intervention in Iraq.
Aug. 28, 2014 — A Canadian Forces C-17 cargo plane makes the first delivery of military supplies to forces in Iraq, bringing in provisions donated by Albania.
Aug. 28 - Sept. 26, 2014 — Canadian aircraft make 25 flights and deliver 725,000 kilograms of donated military supplies to Iraq.
Sept. 5, 2014 — Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces the deployment of several dozen members of the Canadian Forces to Iraq to join the U.S. in advising security forces.
Sept. 19, 2014 — The U.S. government asks Canada for additional military support against ISIS.
Oct. 3, 2014 — Harper speaks in the House of Commons about Canada's future contributions to the fight against ISIS.
Oct. 7, 2014 — Following a debate and a vote in the House of Commons, the Harper government announces that Canadian warplanes will join coalition forces attacking ISIS's capacity to fight in Iraq.
- ISIS airstrikes by Canada to end by Feb. 22, training forces to triple
- Most Canadians disagree with Trudeau plan to withdraw CF-18s: poll
Oct. 28, 2014 — Canadian aircraft arrive in the region: six CF-18 Hornet fighter-bombers, a CC-150 Polaris aerial tanker and two CP-140 Auroras for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Nov. 2, 2014 — CF-18 Hornets conduct their first combat strikes on ISIS targets. Over the next 15 months they will fly more than 1,300 sorties.
March 6, 2015 — Special forces soldier Sgt. Andrew Doiron, part of the Canadian training mission, is killed in a friendly-fire incident involving Kurdish troops.
March 24, 2015 — Harper tells the Commons the military mission will be extended and expanded, allowing airstrikes in Syria and the deployment of up to 30 officers to coalition headquarters.
Feb. 8, 2016 — In keeping with a controversial campaign promise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government announces major changes to Canada's commitment to the fight, with a renewed focus on training and humanitarian aid. CF-18 warplanes are to be withdrawn by Feb. 22, although re-fueller and reconnaissance aircraft to remain deployed, along with crew.
Feb. 11, 2016 — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan attends meeting of NATO allies in Brussels, to discuss future of anit-ISIS campaign. Sajjan says Canada's plan to withdraw CF-18s and focus on training and aid is well received.
Feb. 17, 2016 — Sajjan announces in the House of Commons that as of Feb. 15, Canadian CF-18s have flown their last mission against ISIS.
March 8, 2016 — The refocused ISIS strategy passes a vote in the House of Commons. The plan includes $264 million to extend the military mission in Iraq and Syria for one year until March 31, 2017, with a focus on training local forces.
July 11, 2016 — Sajjan visits Baghdad to meet with Iraqi and Kurdish officials and discuss Canada's role in the campaign against ISIS.
July 20, 2016 — Sajjan announces that Canada will support its allies in the battle for Mosul by deploying a field hospital.
Oct. 6, 2016 — Brig.-Gen. Peter Dawe, deputy commander of the special forces, announces that Canadian troops have been involved in gunfights with ISIS over the past few months, as they mentor Kurdish forces during attacks.
Nov. 16, 2016 — Maj.-Gen. Mike Rouleau, commander of Canadian Special Forces Operations, says Canadian forces used anti-armour missiles to destroy explosive-laden vehicles charging Kurdish front lines.
Dec. 1, 2016 — John Forster, the deputy minister of defence, said the central government in Iraq has now granted Canada permission for the shipment of small arms, ammunition and optical sights to Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
March 21, 2017 — Sajjan announces that Canada will extend its mission in northern Iraq to June 30.
April 4, 2017 — A Global Affairs report dated Dec. 22, 2015, obtained by Conservative researchers and shared with CBC News, reveals that Iraqi officials were not pleased with Canada's decision to withdraw CF-18s.