Canada to launch airstrikes in Iraq

As reported in 'The Japan News' : The Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Canada plans to launch airstrikes against the Islamic State militant group in Iraq following a U.S. request and may extend airstrikes into Syria if invited by President Bashar Assad’s government, the prime minister announced Friday. Stephen Harper said the motion authorizes airstrikes in Iraq for up to six months and explicitly states that no ground troops be used in combat operations. “We will strike ISIL where, and only where, Canada has the clear support of the government of that country. At present, that is only true in Iraq,” Harper said, referring to the Islamic State by one of its acronyms. “If it were to become the case in Syria, then we would participate in airstrikes in that country also.”Speech