<P> On March 19, 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 in response to the 2011 Libyan civil war . Canada's contribution included the deployment of a number of naval and air assets, which were grouped together as part of Operation Mobile . NATO assumed control of military actions on March 25, with RCAF Lieutenant General, Charles Bouchard in command . A no - fly zone was put into effect during the civil war to prevent government forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi from carrying out air attacks on anti-Gaddafi forces and civilians . The military intervention was enforced by NATO's Operation Unified Protector and included an arms embargo, a no - fly zone and a mandate to use all means necessary, short of foreign occupation, to protect Libyan civilians and civilian - populated areas . On October 28, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the NATO military mission had ended successfully . </P> <P> Starting in early 2012 several insurgent groups in Mali started to take over the country . In January 2013 Mali asked for assistance from France to aid in ridding the country of the rebel insurgents . In December, the UN authorized an African intervention with the approval of the Economic Community of West African States . France then proceeded to ask its NATO allies to get involved, with Canada joining the effort by helping with the transportation of troops with a C - 17 Globemaster . This was followed by twenty four Joint Task Force 2 members who entered the country to secure the Canadian embassy in the capital Bamako . A ceasefire agreement was signed on February 19, 2015 in Algiers, Algeria but sporadic terrorist attacks still occur . </P> <P> Operation Impact is the name of Canada's contribution to the military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant that began in September 2014 . The first Canadian airstrike against an Islamic State target occurred on 2 November . It was reported that CF - 18s successfully destroyed heavy engineering equipment used to divert the Euphrates River near the city of Fallujah . In October, then Prime Minister designate Justin Trudeau informed President Barack Obama that Canada intended to withdraw its fighter aircraft, while keeping its ground forces in Iraq and Syria . </P> <P> The Constitution of Canada gives the federal government exclusive responsibility for national defence, and expenditures are thus outlined in the federal budget . For the 2007--2010 fiscal year, the amount allocated for defence spending was C $6.15 billion which is 1.4 percent of the country's GDP . This regular funding was augmented in 2005 with an additional C $12.5 billion over five years, as well as a commitment to increasing regular force troop levels by 5,000 persons, and the primary reserve by 4,500 over the same period . In 2010, a further C $5.3 billion over five years was provided to allow for 13,000 more regular force members, and 10,000 more primary reserve personnel, as well as C $17.1 billion for the purchase of new trucks for the Canadian Army, transport aircraft and helicopters for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and joint support ships for the Royal Canadian Navy . In July 2010, the largest purchase in Canadian military history, totalling C $9 billion for the acquisition of 65 F - 35 fighters, was announced by the federal government . Canada is one of several nations that assisted in the development of the F - 35 and has invested over C $168 million in the program . In 2010, Canada's military expenditure totaled approximately C $122.5 billion . </P>

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