Canada will stop its bombing campaign against ISIS later this month, but will increase its training mission in Iraq while maintaining its refueling and surveillance flights for the coalition, the country’s prime minister announced Monday. All six of Canada’s jets deployed as part of the coalition will end airstrike operations by Feb. 22, reported the CBC. However, the country will triple the number of training forces in Iraq, and will maintain one CC-150 Polaris aerial refueling aircraft and two CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft, CBC reported. The country has also promised $840 million in humanitarian assistance for the coalition, and $270 million to “build local capacity” in Jordan and Lebanon. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Monday the US is welcomes Canada’s increased training presence and its continued support for the air campaign, even though the US will be carrying even more of the combat burden.
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
