Crack in Western Alliance, Canada To Stop Bombing In Iraq And Syria

  • Our Bureau
  • 02:20 PM, October 21, 2015
  • 3912
Crack in Western Alliance, Canada To Stop Bombing In Iraq And Syria
Canadian CF-18 in Iraqi operations against ISIS in 2014

Canada has signalled to withdraw its fighter jets from fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Canada’s Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau on Tuesday told US President Barack Obama that the Canadian fighter jets will no longer be part of the fight against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

But he gave no timeline.

"About an hour ago I spoke with President Obama," Trudeau told a press conference.

While Canada remains "a strong member of the coalition against ISIL," Trudeau said he made clear to the US leader "the commitments I have made around ending the combat mission."

Canada last year deployed CF-18 fighter jets to the region until March 2016, as well as about 70 Special Forces troops to train Kurds in northern Iraq.

During the campaign, Trudeau pledged to bring home the fighter jets and end its combat mission. But he vowed to keep military trainers in place.

His new Liberal government will be "moving forward with our campaign commitments in a responsible fashion," Trudeau said.

"We want to ensure that the transition is done in an orderly fashion."

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