OTTAWA - New National Defence statistics show fewer Canadian bombs have been falling on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant since the federal election call on Aug. 2.
CF-18 fighters conducted 10 air raids last month and 12 in August, which is fewer than half of the average number of attacks each month since the spring.
The drop in bombing comes as Russia this week opened its own air campaign in Syria, hitting targets on behalf of the Assad government and heralding what experts say is a dangerous new phase of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The Harper government has not commented on the latest developments, but Green party Leader Elizabeth May says Canada should be pressing for urgent talks engaging Russia, Iran, the U.S. and other allies.
The air war has figured prominently in the federal election campaign: the Liberals promise to halt the raids and concentrate on training Iraqi ground forces. The New Democrats say they would pull out of the mission entirely.
The mission made headlines in August when it was disclosed that the U.S.-led coalition had investigated a single Canadian airstrike last winter amid allegations of civilian casualties, but found no evidence to support the claims.
