Canada鈥檚 expanded training role in the fight against Islamic State militants may be dangerous, but it鈥檚 鈥渇or a good cause,鈥� Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said in an interview with 麻豆传媒 in Khazir, Northern Iraq.
Speaking to 麻豆传媒 Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme, who is in Northern Iraq on a joint 麻豆传媒-Toronto Star reporting mission, Canada鈥檚 top soldier said that ISIS is still a 鈥減otent鈥� force in the Middle East, but 鈥渢hey are defeatable.鈥�
Vance said he wants Canadians to be proud of the Canadian Special Operations Forces, who have been tasked with training and advising local forces in Iraq in the fight against the terrorist organization.
As part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 promise to end Canada鈥檚 combat mission against ISIS in Iraq, the CF-18 fighter jets ceased their operations in the country in late February. Ottawa then tripled the size of the 鈥渢rain, advise and assist鈥� effort in the region, sending more special forces to assist local troops on the ground.
Some criticized the move, saying that putting more military personnel on the ground increases the risk for Canadian casualties. But Vance told LaFlamme that鈥檚 simply part of the job.
鈥淲e do danger,鈥� he said. 鈥淐anada鈥檚 military goes to dangerous places all the time and it鈥檚 always for a good cause.鈥�
Vance said Canada鈥檚 special-ops soldiers are 鈥渂right, motivated and exceptionally well-trained.鈥�
They are 鈥渋deally suited鈥� for the 鈥渁dvise and assist鈥� mission in Iraq, he added.
鈥淲e鈥檙e one of very, very small number of nations in the world that can do what we do.鈥�
The Canadian soldiers鈥� work in the region has already paid off, Vance said, noting that Iraqi security forces were recently able to recapture the central city of Ramadi, which was occupied by ISIS.
An even bigger challenge for the Iraqi army lies ahead. The local forces have been preparing an assault on the biggest ISIS stronghold in the country -- the city of Mosul in northern Iraq.
Vance said he did not have a timeline for the mission to retake Mosul, but he believes it will be successful, as long as the right conditions are met.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e on good ground to be able to really understand what鈥檚 going on in front of us,鈥� he said.
But ISIS is 鈥渟till a potent force,鈥� and can never be underestimated, he said.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e still motivated.鈥�
The global effort to eradicate ISIS 鈥渨ill continue for some time,鈥� Vance said, adding that the success of Iraq as a country will depend on what the government does after ISIS has been defeated.
In the meantime, Vance said he hopes Canadians understand why their military continues to be involved.
鈥淚鈥檇 like very much for Canadians to put their shoulder behind what we鈥檙e doing here,鈥� he said. 鈥淒espite the dangers, it is for a good cause.鈥�
