COLD LAKE, Alta. - Canadian fighter jets have left the Cold Lake military base in Alberta to join an international combat mission against Islamic State extremists in Iraq.
The CF-18 Hornets are heading to Kuwait, which will serve as Canada's base of operations.
About 600 personnel — along with the jets, two surveillance planes and an aerial tanker — are to be based in Kuwait.
National Defence Minister Rob Nicholson is in Cold Lake and a media availability is planned.
Canada is part of an international fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.