MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Ottawa is set to increase the number of Canadian military trainers on the ground to instruct Iraqi forces as part of its contribution to the US-led coalition’s efforts to fight Islamic State (ISIL), the country’s prime minister said Tuesday.
"Obviously we committed throughout the campaign and I’ve committed repeatedly to my allies that we were going to do more on the training front and that means obviously more than just 69 trainers," Justin Trudeau was quoted as saying by the Globe and Mail.
He also noted he had reassured allies and Canadians that even more support was yet to follow.
The remark comes a day after Trudeau confirmed Canada’s bombing campaign in the region would end by March, 2016, when the current parliamentary mandate expires.
Canada's CF-18 fighter jets currently take part in the air combat mission of the international coalition. The country has also deployed about 70 special forces troops to train Kurds in northern Iraq in 2014.
