Coalition Member and Free Syrian Army

Sunni militia fighters: It makes sense then for the coalition to first and foremost equip, train, advise and assist Iraqi troops, Sunni militia fighters, Peshmerga forces and Free Syrian Army rebels fighting Daesh, especially since not a single neighbouring country or coalition member has so far engaged their own ground forces in direct combat, and rightly so, according to Toronto Star. If withdrawing Canada six CF-18s and using the estimated $243 million to $351 million a year saved in incremental expenses for such purposes was justifiable prior to last fall terrorist attacks claimed by ISIS, it is doubly so now that the bombing tempo has picked up to the point of running out of credible targets. Every military expert interviewed since the launch of the air campaign by the U.S.-led coalition 18 months ago has stated unequivocally that, while airstrikes are helpful, boots on the ground are indispensable in regaining lost territory and ultimately defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Allied forces are dropping 30 per cent more ordinance per sortie now than they did on average in 2014-2015, amounting to over 30,000 bombing runs so far. And Russia has entered the air war with a vengeance with hundreds of cruise missiles, long-range bombers, and MiGs, some of which is targeted at ISIS strongholds in Syria, after the downing of Metrojet flight 9268 over the Sinai that killed all 224 people aboard last fall. In addition, France has brought into the theatre its flagship carrier Charles de Gaulle, tripling its aerial firepower following the Paris carnage that left 130 dead. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.