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As the Conservative government contemplates sending CF-18 fighter jets into Iraq, Canadian pilots may soon be bombing some of the same gunmen their actions supported several years ago elsewhere.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham, or ISIS, which has seized parts of Syria and Iraq, includes a large number of volunteers from Libya who fought in the 2011 uprising that overthrew dictator Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

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Extremist organizations such as Ansar al Sharia Libya, a jihadist group that formed during the uprising against Gaddafi, has provided trained fighters for ISIL.

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The Royal Canadian Air Force played a key role in the NATO bombing campaign against Gaddafi’s forces. Those airstrikes destroyed large parts of Libya’s military and are credited with allowing the group of rag-tag militias and assorted armed groups to eventually seize control of the country.

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