WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Canada sent 120 personnel to join the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (ISIL) terrorists in order to replace a contingent that returned back this week, the Canadian Department of National Defense announced in a statement.
“Approximately 120 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel deployed today to replace personnel currently serving overseas as part of Op IMPACT, the CAF’s contribution to the Middle East Stabilization Force,” the statement read on Friday.
On Wednesday, Canada returned some 125 troops from their mission against the ISIL in the Middle East.
Canada's Defense Department began rotating military personnel in April 2015 to and from the Middle East, and said it will continue until mid-June 2015.
“Canadian Armed Forces personnel are battle hardened and respected worldwide as an agile and versatile force,” Canada’s Minister of National Defense Jason Kenney said in the statement. “Today, as another group departs Canada to stand alongside our Allies against ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] brutality, we can take pride they represent Canada’s most solemn commitment to this vital effort.”
Canada has sent nearly 600 personnel to the Middle East as part of the Joint Task Force-Iraq.
Ottawa began launching airstrikes on ISIL positions in Iraq in November 2014.
Meanwhile, the US-led international coalition of some 60 nations has been launching airstrikes against the militants' positions in Iraq since August 2014, and has expanded the attacks to include ISIL targets in Syria in September 2014.
