Canadian special forces troops are back to full employment in northern Iraq — but for how long?
Canadian special forces troops are back to full employment in northern Iraq — but for how long?
All joint operations between the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition and Iraqi security forces were suspended in early January following the targeted killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
The all-clear to resume specialized military training and assistance was confirmed late last week by the Iraqi Army as the country’s parliament faced a deadline to select a new prime minister.
Maj.-Gen. Peter Dawe, who is in charge of Canadian Special Forces Command, told CBC News on Monday that his troops are back on the job helping the Iraqis track down the remnants of ISIS — but they’re fully aware of the precarious political climate.
“The entire premise of our mission — to defeat Daesh — has not changed and Canadians should be aware of that,” said Dawe, using an alternate name for ISIS. “It’s still a sensitive space right now in terms of interaction with the [Iraqi] government.”
Treading carefully
Following the drone strike that killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis, Iraq’s parliament passed a non-binding motion to eject foreign troops — a proposition that remains unresolved because of the absence of a stable government.
Dawe suggested the coalition and the Canadian troops are treading carefully, adding they “are not blind” to the “complex situation” in Iraq as the country grapples with both political uncertainty and ongoing street protests.
