Canada affirms commitment to fighting ISIS in Iraq ​

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Canadian prime minister on Wednesday affirmed his country’s commitment in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq as the terror group’s sleeper cells continue to carry out activities across Iraqi provinces.

“Canada’s longstanding commitment in Iraq to help push back against Daesh [ISIS] continues,” Justin Trudeau said at the United Nations summit in response to Rudaw’s Majeed Gly.

Canada is an active member of the 84-membered Global Coalition against ISIS.

ISIS started to gain global prominence in 2014 when it seized control of swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territories. It drove Iraqi security forces out of key cities, captured Mosul, and committed massacres against minority groups residing in the country.

It was declared territorially defeated in 2017 and 2019 respectively but continues to launch hit-and-run activities.

In 2016, Canada announced a Middle East engagement strategy to respond to Syria and Iraq’s crises. It has committed more than $4 billion towards security, stabilization, and humanitarian assistance over the past six years with a significant portion of this funding going to Iraq.

Canada continues “to be present in theatres and conflicts around the world,” Trudeau  said. “Canada has always stepped up when needed around the world, and we will continue to.”

The North American country commanded the NATO training and capacity-building mission in Iraq from 2018 to 2020.