Time for Canada to leave Iraq

Canada must encourage de-escalation in Iraq within the NATO framework. Simultaneously, in light of recent rocket attacks and the fulfillment of the coalition's main objective to defeat ISIS, Canada must withdraw the remaining CAF troops from Iraq, disentangling Ottawa from the ongoing Tehran-Washington rivalry.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, pictured Jan. 16, 2020, being briefed on the status of Joint Task Force-IMPACT (JTF-I) and the Canadian Armed Forces' presence in the Middle East by JTF-I Commander, Brig.-Gen. Michel-Henri St-Louis and members of JTF-I's leadership team, during a visit of Camp Canada at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Canada should now focus on providing advisory, training, and capacity-building support through its regional forces based outside of Iraq in accordance with its directive under Operation IMPACT until the expiry of the current mission in March 2022, write Bijan Ahmadi and Pouyan Kimiayjan.Photograph courtesy of Cpl. Jerome Lessard/DND

Opinion

BY Bijan Ahmadi and Pouyan Kimiayjan

July 26, 2021

Rocket attacks by Shia militias in Iraq and Syria against American and coalition facilities, including those housing Canadian forces, have become regular occurrences that have continued into the U.S. presidency of Joe Biden. Since assuming office, the Biden administration has responded by ordering t...

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