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Canada deployed six CF-18 Hornet fighters to Kuwait last year to take part in U.S.-led airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and later Syria. The terrorist group responded angrily in its propaganda by threatening Canada and trying to incite its followers to stage attacks.

The initial jihadi online reaction to his election and to his promised policies reflects feelings of elation and a sense of triumph at a perceived defeat of Canada and the anti-ISIS coalition

Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau campaigned on a pledge to withdraw from the air coalition, although he would continue training Iraqi forces. There have been no Canadian strikes since last Friday, when an ISIL ammunition cache was targeted.

ISIL has made no official statement about the change in government but Zweig said MEMRI, a Washington-based non-profit, had noticed the reaction to the Liberal win as it was monitoring the social media accounts of terrorist groups and their supporters.

“Canada ran away,” read an Arabic-language Twitter post. Another, by Sally Jones, the widow of ISIL fighter Junaid Hussain, read: “Canadian fighter jets to withdraw from fighting ISIS – yeah because they know whats good for them.”

While some online extremists saw it as a sign of the unravelling of the anti-ISIL coalition, others were skeptical. “I highly doubt they will withdraw cause at the end of the day Canada is a u.s. lab (Sic) dog and the u.s. is owned by the yahuud (Jews),” one post read.

“The long-term effect of PM Trudeau’s promised withdrawal of Canadian fighter planes from the bombing campaign against ISIS remains to be seen, both on the ground as well as in terms of terrorists’ online discussions about Canada,” the report read.

“This is particularly true in light of Trudeau’s commitment to continue Canadian efforts in training Kurdish militias. But the initial jihadi online reaction to his election and to his promised policies reflects feelings of elation and a sense of triumph at a perceived defeat of Canada and the anti-ISIS coalition. It also must be borne in mind that although the Canadian leadership has changed, ISIS is still not likely to remove its ongoing focus from Canada.”

National Post

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