A chronological look at Canada’s involvement in the fight against ISIL

OTTAWA – Here is a timeline of Canada’s involvement in the fight against the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIL or ISIS:

Aug. 7, 2014 —United States 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 ISIL.

Oct. 3, 2014 — Harper speaks in the House of Commons about Canada’s future contributions to the fight against ISIL.

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 ISIL’s capacity to fight in Iraq.

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 ISIL 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 CF-18 warplanes are to be withdrawn by Feb. 22, although refueller and reconnaissance aircraft to remain deployed, along with crew.