Liberals look to extend Iraq mission without changes until battle for Mosul ends
OTTAWA — The Liberal government is expected to extend Canada’s mission in Iraq in the coming days as it waits for the battle of Mosul to end.
The current mission, launched last year, saw the government withdraw Canadian fighter jets from the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but triple the number of special forces soldiers in northern Iraq.
It also added a helicopter detachment to transport and resupply those soldiers as well as a 50-person intelligence unit, and kept two surveillance planes and a refuelling aircraft in the region.
The mission was set to expire next week, but sources tell The Canadian Press that the government is looking at an extension of several months without any changes.