Thursday 25 February 2016

Operation IMPACT

Operation IMPACT is the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) contribution to the Middle East Stabilization Force (MESF) – the multinational coalition to halt and degrade the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Under Operation IMPACT, the CAF conduct air operations, provide training and assistance to the Iraqi security forces, provide capacity building capabilities to regional forces, and support the coalition with highly skilled personnel.
Attention: Latest news - Mission Refocus
In accordance with Government of Canada direction, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) ceased airstrike operations in Iraq and Syria on 15 February 2016.
From their first sortie on 30 October 2014 to 15 February 2016, the CF-188 Hornets conducted 1378 sorties resulting in 251 airstrikes (246 in Iraq and 5 in Syria), expended 606 munitions and achieved the following effects:
267 ISIL fighting positions,
102 ISIL equipment and vehicles, and 30 ISIL Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factories and ISIL storage facilities.
The six CF-188 Hornets, along with associated aircrew and support personnel, will depart the region in a phased approach in the coming weeks
The CC-150 Polaris and CP-140 Aurora aircraft will continue to conduct air-to-air refueling and aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in support of coalition air operations.

Image Gallery

  • Kuwait. 27 Jan 2016 – Canadian Armed Forces Military Police and firefighters participate in a Combat First Aid Course given by the United States Marine Corps during Operation IMPACT. (Photo: Op IMPACT, DND)

Video Gallery

The total number of personnel deployed under Operation IMPACT is increased to a maximum of 830 CAF members, from approximately 650, this includes tripling the size of the Canadian Special Operations Forces’ train, advise, and assist mission in support of the Iraqi security forces.
The military engagement in Iraq and Syria under Operation IMPACT is extended until 31 March 2017.
Through the refocused CAF efforts to the MESF, Canada is playing an important role, alongside its partners, in setting the conditions for Iraqi security forces to achieve long-term success through self-sustainable security.

Joint Task Force-Iraq

The Joint Task Force-Iraq is responsible for the national command and control of Operation IMPACT personnel and operations and for the coordination of operations with the coalition headquarters.
Additional CAF personnel with high-demand skillsets will support and enable the coalition and Iraqi security forces in the planning and execution of military operations. The additional personnel will have expertise in areas such as intelligence operations; social media exploitation; targeting; and command and control. The deployment of additional personnel will be conducted over the next weeks.
These additional personnel, including operational planners and liaison officers, will support allies at coalition centers and headquarters in the region. Through this support, Canada is playing an important role, alongside its partners, in setting the conditions for Iraqi security forces to achieve long-term success.

Mission Context

About ISIL

ISIL was founded in Iraq in October 2004 when the leader of Jamaat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad aligned with Al-Qaeda, creating what was then known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The group has also been known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State (IS), and Daesh.
ISIL advocates radical interpretations of Islam and claims religious authority over all Muslims. It aims to create a caliphate in the Levant region – which includes Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Cyprus and a part of southern Turkey – by converting or killing non-Sunni populations. Its ultimate objective is the establishment of a world-wide Islamic caliphate.
It is estimated that ISIL has between 25, 000 and 30,000 fighters in total across Iraq and Syria, of which a number are foreign recruits. The group has acquired equipment including tanks, artillery pieces and other light vehicles, mainly stolen from Iraqi and Syrian military installations.

International response

The group began taking control of territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014, starting with Fallujah in Iraq in January 2014 and culminating with the fall of Mosul in June 2014. Its rapid advance across Iraq and Syria has displaced millions of people, has undermined stability in Iraq and the region, and poses a threat to international security.
On 7 August 2014, United States President Barack Obama authorised targeted military intervention in Iraq.  A United States-led coalition that includes many of Canada’s closest allies and partners, as well as important regional partners, is working to degrade ISIL.

Milestones/ Mission Timeline

  • Between 28 August and 26 September 2014, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aircraft conducted 25 flights to deliver more than 1,600,000 pounds of military supplies to Iraq.
  • 28 October 2014 – All ATF-I air assets arrived in Kuwait.
  • 30 October 2014 – Two CF-188 Hornets, one CP-140 Aurora and one CC-150T Polaris conducted their first missions as part of the MESF. The two CF-188 Hornets did not conduct any airstrike during this first sortie. The successful conduct of the first ATF-I missions confirmed the integration of Canadian air assets in the MESF.
  • 2 November 2014 – CF-188 Hornets conducted Canada’s first combat airstrike on ISIL targets.
  • 30 March 2015 – The CAF mission was formally extended for as many as 12 months and expanded into Syria.
  • 8 February 2016 – The Government of Canada announced its renewed and enhanced whole-of-government approach to the fight against ISIL.
  • 8 February 2016  – The Government of Canada announced that the CAF will cease airstrike operations in Iraq and Syria by 22 February, 2016.
  • 15 February 2016 – The CAF ceased airstrike operations in Iraq and Syria.

Delivery of military supplies to Iraq

Between 28 August and 26 September 2014, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aircraft conducted 25 flights to deliver more than 1,600,000 pounds (725,000 kilograms) of military supplies to Iraq. The donations from allied countries included small arms, ammunition and other military equipment. The supplies were delivered in concert with military partners including the United Kingdom and the United States, to security forces working in Baghdad and Erbil.

Cost

The actual incremental costs related to Op IMPACT for fiscal year 2014-15 totaled approximately $70 million. This total comes from the estimate of up to $122 million provided by government in 2015.
This figure, which encompassed mission start until 31 March 2015, will be reported in the 2014-15 Departmental Performance Report (DPR). 
Given the current fiscal year ends on March 31st 2016, the actual total incremental expenditures for this fiscal year cannot be fully confirmed at this time.
Canada will allocate approximately $305.9 million towards the extension and refocusing of the mission. This includes $41.9 million to be allocated for redeployment of personnel and equipment in 2017.
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