Canada to withdraw warplanes deployed against IS in Iraq

Canada will withdraw the six combat aircraft it deployed in Iraq to counter the Islamic State, or IS, but will redouble its military efforts against the terrorist group, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Lower House of the country’s Parliament Monday.

Canada’s previous government, headed by conservative leader Stephen Harper, whose party lost the general elections held on Oct. 19, had deployed six CF18 warplanes in Iraq since 2014 as part of its contribution to the coalition fighting the IS.

During its election campaign, Trudeau’s Liberal Party, which won the elections, had promised to withdraw the fighter planes and transform the North American nation’s military engagement into increased training for Iraqi forces.

Trudeau said Monday Canada was in talks with its allies to determine the best way for Canada to continue participating and contributing considering the impending withdrawal of its fighter planes.

The Conservative Party said the withdrawal amounts to a givingin to the Islamic State, but an examination of antiIS operations reveal Canadian warplanes account for just 2.7 percent of the western coalition’s airstrikes.

Canada has also deployed around 70 members of its special forces, officially in trainingrelated tasks, who are, however, participating in combat operations against the IS, according to the Canadian media.