( CNN ) Canadian fighter jets have carried out their first airstrike against ISIS in Syria , hitting one of the Sunni militant group 's garrisons . The CF-18 Hornets bombed near ISIS ' de facto capital of Raqqa , Canada 's Department of National Defence said Wednesday . It described the strike as successful . Canadian forces are part of the U.S.-led coalition trying to stem the extremist group 's bloody advances in Iraq and Syria . Canadian warplanes have conducted dozens of strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq since November . Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced plans last month to expand the airstrikes into Syria . `` This first airstrike under the expanded mandate demonstrates our government 's firm resolve to tackle the threat of terrorism against Canada and to promote international security and stability , '' Defense Minister Jason Kenney said in a statement . `` ISIL is a genocidal terrorist organization and we will deny them safe haven in the region , '' he said , using an alternative acronym for the militant group , which refers to itself as the Islamic State . The Canadian aircraft and their crews safely returned to base , the military said . It was n't immediately clear how many casualties the airstrike had caused . U.S. warplanes have been bombing ISIS positions in Iraq since August and in Syria since September . Other Western and Middle East nations are taking part in the campaign , either through direct military actions or by providing support . ISIS , whose influence has spread far beyond the borders of Iraq and Syria , has imposed its harsh interpretation on Islam on the areas it has seized , killing thousands of people and persecuting minorities . CNN 's Tina Burnside contributed to this report .
CF-18 Hornets maintains a garrison near ISIS ' de facto capital of Raqqa , Canada coast . The Canadian army has conducted dozens of strikes against civilians in turkey .