Prime Minister Stephen Harper today met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to discuss Canada’s military contribution and collaboration within the international coalition against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The two leaders also discussed the security issues facing the region and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral relations.
ISIS presents a direct threat to Canadian citizens at home and abroad, as well as to regional and global security, including in Iraq. Iraqi forces, with the assistance of Canadian and allied forces participating in the international coalition against ISIS, are making important progress on disrupting and degrading the terrorist group.
ISIS’ barbaric actions in Iraq and Syria have resulted in the brutal deaths of thousands of children, women and men as well as the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. It continues to target members of ethnic and religious communities, and has callously destroyed places of worship and irreplaceable archaeological sites.
