Canada Renews Participation In Global Coalition In Iraq Through March 2021 - Defense Chief

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th March, 2019) The Canadian government is extending its military Operation Impact in Iraq through March 2021, Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said during a press conference on Monday.

"We have made significant and lasting progress but we recognize that more work is needed. We must ensure Daesh can never rebuild and threaten the safety of Iraq. That is why our government is renewing Operation Impact through March 2021," Sajjan told reporters.

Under the renewed mission, Canada will be able to deploy up to 850 Canadian military personnel to support the global coalition against the Islamic State terrorist group (IS or Daesh, banned in Russia) and the NATO training mission in Iraq.

That figure would include the 250 Canadian military personnel who are deployed as part of the NATO training mission in Iraq, serving as advisers, trainers, force protection and headquarters staff, Sajjan said.

The extension will allow Canada to continue its capacity-building activities with Iraqi, Jordanian and Lebanese armed forces, Sajjan said.

Sajjan said in a press release later on Monday that Canada would continue to advise Iraqi officials to build more effective and sustainable defense and security institutions in addition to supporting regional forces.