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DND said the frequency of airstrikes are dictated by operational matters, not the politics of Ottawa.

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“Yeah, in the last few weeks there have been more (airstrikes) in the past week or so, but if you look back at the course of Op Impact, there’s been peaks and valleys where it’s gone up and it’s gone down. It mainly happens with regard to what’s going on in the coalition,” said Capt. Kirk Sullivan, a public affairs officer with Canadian Joint Operations Command Headquarters.

“It’s broader, it’s bigger than just even the Canadian Armed Forces because it happens at a coalition level,” he said.

“Many factors determine the frequency and location of airstrikes in a coalition setting. Be it in Iraq or in Syria, aircraft are assigned on a daily basis by the coalition to targets where (ISIL) is known to operate with the ultimate goal of improving the security of Iraq and coalition nations.

“Coalition aircraft are assigned the targets by the coalition.”

He said Parliament decides the military’s missions, but doesn’t select its operational sorties. And the mission is set to continue until the government recalls its forces.

“It’s part of Operation Impact, which is continuing under the mandate given to it by Parliament until direction is provided otherwise.

“We don’t act on regime change, we act on direction, is basically what it comes down to,” said Capt. Sullivan.

“As far as the direction goes, we’re continuing on with our operations until directed otherwise. We are ready to implement any change when it comes from the government.”