Canadian Parliament authorizes airstrikes in Iraq with vote
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Canada's Parliament has voted to authorize airstrikes against the Islamic State militant group in Iraq following a U.S. request.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party introduced the motion last week and it was debated this week. Harper has a majority of seats in Parliament so the vote was all but assured. The motion passed 157-134 Tuesday.
The motion authorizes air strikes in Iraq for up to six months and explicitly states that no ground troops be used in combat operations.
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The combat mission includes up to six CF-18 fighter jets, a refueling tanker aircraft, two surveillance planes and one airlift aircraft. About 600 airmen and airwomen will be involved.
Canada is among dozens of countries that have joined the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant group.