Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper stands to vote in favour of a government motion to participate in U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State militants operating in Iraq, in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa October 7, 2014. Reuters/Chris Wattie

Canada's House of Commons has greenlit in a 157-134 vote on Tuesday night its participation to go into war versus ISIS. The 23 figure difference has officially approved the launch of the country's combat mission against the extremist group.

The approved motion, which prompted a two-day debate among Canadian lawmakers, allows for the use and deployment of six Canadian fighter-bombers, two CP-140 surveillance planes, one refuelling aircraft and 600 personnel. The military equipment and men in uniform will join U.S.-led coalition airstrikes launched against the ISIS in Iraq for six months.

As with the U.S., Canada will not be sending troops on the ground. However, the 69 special forces soldiers earlier deployed and already on the ground will remain there. Their mission is to continue advising security forces fighting the Islamic State group in the northern part of Iraq.

Read: The Fall of Kobani on ISIS Hands, Blame Being Put on Turkey

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper thanked and lauded the decision of the members of the House of Commons. "If left unchecked this terrorist organization will grow and grow quickly. They have already voiced their local and international terrorist intentions and identified Canada as a potential target," he said in a statement released shortly after the passage of the motion. He added it is a government duty to protect the security of each and every Canadian because the threat posed by ISIS is "real."

An unidentified senior government official said authorities will immediately call for discussions as to how the Canadian aircraft will fit into the existing overall bombing campaign laid down by the U.S.-led coalition. The official said it might take three weeks before Canada sees its first actual airstrike against the extremist ISIS in Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition includes Britain, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and now Canada.

Read: Kurdish Female Soldier and Mother of 2 Arin Mirkan Willingly Volunteers to Become Suicide Bomber, Kills at least 27 ISIS Fighters

As expected, opposition MPs led by NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair blasted the approved motion, saying the Conservatives are putting Canada into a prolonged war "without even a credible plan to help victims of ISIL terror."

Moreover, the approved motion has effectively directed Canada's direct participation in Syria's bloody civil war, Mulcair added. It would have been better, he said, if Canada just increased its humanitarian response to this crisis rather than actively participate in the military actions against ISIS.