Canada to deploy armed forces to Iraq

Canada Friday announced deployment of several dozen members of the Canadian Armed Forces to Iraq to protect Iraqi citizens against Islamic State (IS) and help prevent any further escalation of the humanitarian crisis being caused by those fleeing the group.

The detail about the deployment was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper while attending the NATO Summit held in Wales, Britain, Friday, Xinhua quoted a statement available from his office said .

"The fanaticism of the ISIL terrorist group is a real threat to regional security and millions of innocent people in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Left unchecked, ISIL is also a direct threat to Canada and its Allies. The deployment of members of the Canadian Armed Forces is a concrete measure to deter the murderous rampage of ISIL and respond to the humanitarian crisis it has caused," the office quoted Prime Minister Harper as saying in the statement.

Upon final consent from Iraq, the Canadian troops will join the US in advising the Government of Iraq on how to enable security forces in the northern part of the country to be more effective against the threat posed by the Islamic state (previously called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) ), said the statement.

The statement stressed that the members of Canadian Armed Forces will provide strategic and tactical advice to Iraqi forces before they commence tactical operations against ISIL and Canada will be present in an advisory and assistance role.

The initial deployment of the troops will be for a period of up to 30 days. It will be reassessed after that time.