Canada to end airstrikes against ISIS
Posted February 8, 2016 9:47 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Canada’s fighter jets will end their fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria within the next two weeks.
The last Canadian bombs will fall by February 22nd but the complement of military personnel in the region will climb to 830 up from the current 650 and will provide planning, targeting and intelligence expertise.
The size of Canada’s “train, advise and assist” mission will also triple, including additional medical personnel and equipment including small arms, ammunition and optics to assist in training Iraqi security forces.
The new Liberal mission will also include a team of strategic advisers to help Iraq’s defence and interior ministries.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will instead provide additional planning, targeting and intelligence expertise through March of next year.
The time frame of Canada’s contribution to the mission against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Operation Impact, is also being extended until the end of March 2017.
Trudeau says Canada will spend $1.6-billion over the next three years on security, stabilization, humanitarian and development assistance in the region.
