Canada announced Wednesday it will assume command of a new NATO training and capacity building mission in Iraq, sending up to 250 troops, armored vehicles and four tactical helicopters to the country later this year.

The Canadian troops will be deployed in the Baghdad region starting in the fall of 2018 to help "Iraq build a more effective national security structure and improve training for Iraqi security forces," said a government statement.

"We are proud to take a leadership role in Iraq, and work with our allies and the government of Iraq, to help this region of the Middle East transition to long-lasting peace and stability," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quoted as saying.

The announcement came as Trudeau was attending a fraught NATO summit in Brussels, at which President Donald Trump stunned US allies by suddenly demanding that members double their defense spending commitments.

The Iraq mission will complement Canada's existing efforts as part of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, to which it has been contributing air power, medical support and help in training Iraqi forces since 2014.

Canada also contributes to existing NATO efforts to train Iraqi forces to counter improvised explosive devices.

Last month Canada announced that its 210-strong special forces contingent in Iraq would no longer provide training support for Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters.

In December 2017, following the retreat of IS from several areas in Iraq, Canada recalled its Aurora surveillance aircraft from the country while reinforcing its support for coalition logistics by sending a second CC-130J Hercules transport plane.

Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

A year after jihadists ousted, Iraq's Mosul still in ruins
Mosul, Iraq (AFP) July 10, 2018
A year after pro-government forces recaptured Mosul from the Islamic State group, much of Iraq's second city lies in ruins and many of its residents see little reason to celebrate. "We were liberated but what have we come back to? Our homes have been destroyed," said mother of seven Umm Mohammed. On July 10, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in the battle for the city after a nearly nine-month offensive against the jihadists. The fiercest fighting took place around ... read more