Cold Lake's CF-18s coming home following halt to airstrikes against ISIS

Six CF-18 jets and their crews from Cold Lake will return home, now that Canada has called a halt to air strikes against ISIS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday the air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria will end by Feb. 22.

"The six CF-18 Hornets, along with associated aircrew and support personnel currently deployed to the region, will return to Canada in a phased approach," the Canadian Armed Forces said in an online statement Monday.

Based out of Cold Lake, Alta., the aircraft and crews are part of Operation IMPACT, the Canadian Air Force contribution to the Middle East Stabilization Force, an international coalition aimed at halting and defeating ISIS.

Capt. Kirk Sullivan, an air force public affairs officer, said it's too soon to say when the aircrew and support personnel will return to Canada.

Approximately 200 aircrew and support personnel, most of whom are from 4 Wing Cold Lake, are associated with the six CF-18 Hornets, Sullivan said.

Trudeau announced Monday the Canadian military's engagement in Iraq and Syria under Operation IMPACT will be extended to March 2017, as more Canadian special forces will be sent to train Iraqi soldiers.

Cold Lake is about 300 km northeast of Edmonton.