OTTAWA – Canada will cease airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria by Feb. 22, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday.
The CF-18 fighter jets will be pulled from the mission, but one refuelling plane and two surveillance aircraft will continue to participate. Ottawa will also triple the size of what it calls the “train, advise and assist effort” in the region. Currently, 69 special forces trainers are assisting local troops on the ground.
Canada’s new contribution to the fight against ISIS will include additional medical personnel and equipment such as small arms and ammunition to assist Iraqi security forces.
Trudeau made the announcement alongside Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion and International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.
Asked whether Canadian military trainers will engage in front-line operations or on-the-ground combat alongside local security forces, Trudeau said, “this is a non-combat mission.”
But during a technical briefing with reporters on Monday, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said military trainers will likely face “engagements” with ISIS militants.
“In my view, it’s a non-combat mission in that we are not the principal combatants here,” Vance said. “I want Canadians to know that we will be involved in engagements as we defend ourselves or those partners who we are working with.”
Vance said Canadian military personnel will be marking targets as part of their work with Iraqi security forces.
“There’s no mistake about it — we are in a conflict zone,” Sajjan told CTV’s Power Play later on Monday. But he said the “most critical” piece of Canada’s contribution will be “professionalizing” the Iraqi security forces so that they can “hold the ground” for future stability in the region.
The ongoing mission, known as Operation Impact, will be extended for another two years, with a review scheduled in March, 2017.
