Canadian defense minister briefed on ISIS war from Kurdish president
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani and Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan discussed the war with ISIS and Canada’s military support in the conflict in a meeting in Erbil on Monday, the presidency said in a statement.
Barzani and Sajjan reviewed the campaign against ISIS terrorists, and the support of Canadian military trainers to Peshmerga forces. President Barzani expressed his gratitude to Canadian people and government for supporting the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces,” according to the statement.
It said the minister also told Barzani that the Canadian nation was aware of the bravery of the Peshmerga, and that he had come to Kurdistan precisely to hear the Kurdish president’s assessment of the conflict.
“Terror is a serious threat to us all,” Barzani told the minister. “ISIS poses serious threats to the world and all countries must increase the level of cooperation. Lack of cooperation among countries fighting (ISIS) will benefit the extremist group,” the president reportedly said.
“ISIS will not be taken out through military action alone,” Barzani warned. “We must fight the group ideologically, socially and economically," he stressed.
Sajjan arrived in Erbil on Sunday on a visit that was not announced to the media in advance. He came days after Canadian trainers gave supporting fire to Kurdish Peshmerga forces facing the deadliest ISIS-offensive since the deployment of western trainers to Iraq more than a year ago.
Sajjan had congratulated the Canadian troops after 69 special forces backed the Peshmerga in a lengthy firefight on multiple front-lines against ISIS on Wednesday.
At least six Peshmerga were killed and 13 wounded in those confrontations. They killed about 70 of the attackers. None of the Canadians sustained any casualties or injuries.
Canadian forces, operating under an advisory role, have exchanged fire with ISIS on one other occasion in the past.
Barzani and Sajjan reviewed the campaign against ISIS terrorists, and the support of Canadian military trainers to Peshmerga forces. President Barzani expressed his gratitude to Canadian people and government for supporting the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces,” according to the statement.
It said the minister also told Barzani that the Canadian nation was aware of the bravery of the Peshmerga, and that he had come to Kurdistan precisely to hear the Kurdish president’s assessment of the conflict.
“Terror is a serious threat to us all,” Barzani told the minister. “ISIS poses serious threats to the world and all countries must increase the level of cooperation. Lack of cooperation among countries fighting (ISIS) will benefit the extremist group,” the president reportedly said.
“ISIS will not be taken out through military action alone,” Barzani warned. “We must fight the group ideologically, socially and economically," he stressed.
Sajjan arrived in Erbil on Sunday on a visit that was not announced to the media in advance. He came days after Canadian trainers gave supporting fire to Kurdish Peshmerga forces facing the deadliest ISIS-offensive since the deployment of western trainers to Iraq more than a year ago.
Sajjan had congratulated the Canadian troops after 69 special forces backed the Peshmerga in a lengthy firefight on multiple front-lines against ISIS on Wednesday.
At least six Peshmerga were killed and 13 wounded in those confrontations. They killed about 70 of the attackers. None of the Canadians sustained any casualties or injuries.
Canadian forces, operating under an advisory role, have exchanged fire with ISIS on one other occasion in the past.