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Prime Minister Stephen Harper has issued the following statement announcing further assistance to the people of Iraq:
“As the murderous rampage of the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues, Canada remains committed to providing assistance to the thousands of Iraqi children, women and men, including Yezidis and Christians, who desperately need it.
“That is why I am announcing today that a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130J Hercules and a CC-177 Globemaster, along with their crew of approximately 30 Canadian Armed Forces personnel, have been deployed from Canadian Forces Base Trenton to assist in the delivery of critical military supplies from contributing allies to Kurdish forces fighting ISIL.
“This support, which will be provided in close coordination with our allies, will enable Kurdish forces to provide effective protection to Iraqis faced with the barbarous attacks of ISIL. This measure is in addition to the humanitarian assistance Canada is already providing to the country.
“Canada will not stand idly by while ISIL continues its murder of innocent civilians and religious minorities. We continue to monitor the situation in Iraq and are prepared to provide further assistance.
“In the meantime, we call on Iraq’s leadership to take immediate steps to counter ISIL and the terrorists that operate under that banner. We stand ready to support a new Iraqi government that addresses the needs of all Iraqis, regardless of ethnic origin or religious belief.”
