AUCKLAND, N.Z.—Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada will not shift its military strategy in the fight against the Islamic State group to target the downfall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, amid reports the United States is considering just that.

Although Canada joined the American-led military coalition in airstrikes against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL, which controls large swaths of Sunni territory in Iraq and Syria, Harper said his intention is not to broaden that fight.

In his clearest comments on Syria to date, Harper said on Friday Canada’s support for the U.S. strategy in the region would not extend to deposing the Bashar al-Assad regime.

"Canada is prepared to engage in actions against ISIL in Syria but only as long as those are not interpreted as war against the government of Syria.

“Whatever objections the government of Canada has against the government of Syria, we are not interested in any war with any government in the region. Our only military fight is with ISIL," he said.

Harper as well as Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, has long called for the resignation of the Syrian leader. And on Harper’s orders, with the approval of two parties — Conservatives and Liberals — in Parliament, Canada’s armed forces have deployed CF-18s, refuelling and reconnaissance planes and special commando force advisers to the Iraqi army fighting Islamic State in Iraq.

Harper has said Canada would join airstrikes in Syria, but only with the permission of Assad.

CNN, citing senior U.S. officials and diplomats, reported that U.S. President Barack Obama is seeking another review by his national security advisers, having realized the Islamic State group may not be defeated without a political transition in Syria and the removal of Assad.

Harper said the Canadian government believes "the only way to get a solution in Syria is some kind of a political compromise” between the moderate elements of the opposition and of the government.

“We don’t think it is possible to bring the diverse elements of Syria together unless you have both sides coming together in some way, that a victory of one side over the other just is not a realistic or desirable outcome.

"At the same time we believe that the fight has to be taken against ISIL and other extremists that threaten Canada and other western countries even if there is no such resolution."

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Harper, asked by New Zealand media about the Oct. 22 attack on Parliament Hill, suggested the problem of ISIL-inspired jihadists "is going to be with us for some time."

On ongoing Russian actions in eastern Ukraine, Harper said they were meant to "extend and provoke additional violence. That’s of great concern to us."

Harper spoke after meeting New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in Auckland, New Zealand, just before heading to the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia.

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