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Defence Minister Jason Kenney says Canada needs to join the Syrian bombing campaign because it and the United States are the only members of the coalition who have the smart bombs needed for such air strikes.

But Kenney’s claim is being challenged by critics, and statements from U.S. officials raise questions about its accuracy.

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Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, part of the current five-country U.S.-led coalition bombing targets in Syria, have smart weapons and have already used them against Islamic extremists.

Last fall, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the Arab nations for their role in the bombing campaign and highlighted their use of precision-guided munitions in Syria.

These nations “are performing just as well as we are on the issue of precision and reducing the possibility of collateral damage,” Dempsey said.

Fighter jets from Saudi Arabia and the UAE are equipped with the same or similar U.S. smart bombs that Canada has acquired.