OTTAWA – Members of the Royal Canadian Airforce have begun their return from Libya where they flew missions aiding civilians who were in revolt against former dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Canada took a major role in the UN-mandated operation to protect the people of Libya from the Gadhafi regime while also imposing an arms embargo and a no-fly zone.
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“Canada once again punched above its weight as part of an international coalition,” Peter MacKay, minister of national defence, said in a news release Friday. “I am extremely proud of the men and women of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy whose contribution was, without a doubt, instrumental in the protection of civilians from the violence of the Gadhafi regime.”
Canada sent a frigate, CF-18 fighters, in-flight refuelling tankers, Hercules aircraft and CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft to the region.
The CF-18 aircraft conducted 946 sorties, making up 10 per cent of NATO strike sorties. Over the course of their sorties, Canada’s fighters dropped 696 bombs of various types.
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