A letter from General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, about deployed personnel in the Middle East

From Canada’s MOD

On January 7, 2020, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jonathan Vance, published a letter through social media addressed to families of military personnel. The letter provided an update on Canada’s missions in the Middle East and the status of Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed in the region.

Here is the text of the letter:

The news coming out of the Middle East is alarming for many of you, as such I thought it best to communicate with you directly to provide an update on Canada’s missions in the region, and more importantly, the status and well-being of your family and friends deployed in Iraq and Kuwait and elsewhere in the Region.First and foremost, let me assure you that all necessary force protection measures that can be taken have been taken.

The safety and security of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel is my priority, as it is the priority of my senior leadership. Force protection measures continue to be considered, reassessed, and modified as required on a daily basis.In response to the events of late, the CAF, working in collaboration with our international partners, has temporarily paused our efforts in Iraq that fall under Operation IMPACT, and the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI).

The situation in Iraq is complex and it is best to pause our work there in order to fully concentrate our attention and efforts towards the safety and security of our personnel while the situation develops.

We have approximately 800 military members in the region, about 500 in Iraq, some of them are deployed on Operation IMPACT, and some with NMI – two separate missions. Over the coming days, and as a result of Coalition and NATO planning, some of our people will be moved temporarily from Iraq to Kuwait. Simply put, we are doing this to ensure their safety and security. This also holds true of NMI.‎ While this adjustment of our posture is underway, planned HLTA (leave) and rotation of people in and out of their tours will be interrupted.Despite the operational pause in Iraq, our mission in the Middle East carries-on with multiple other operations in the region.

Naturally, the work we are doing on these missions, and the future of operations in Iraq, remain conditional on maintaining a sufficiently secure and productive ‎operational environment.Over the coming days and weeks we, the leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces, will communicate with you again, and as often as necessary, to ensure that you are well informed about the status of your CAF loved-ones.

Thank you for your continued support to those deployed in the service of Canada.Yours Sincerely,J.H Vance
General
Chief of the Defence Staff

Within Op IMPACT, up to 250 Canadian Armed Forces members are deployed to Iraq in support of NATO Mission Iraq,  currently led by Canadian Major-General Jennie Carignan.

The purpose of the mission is to help strengthen Iraqi security forces and Iraqi military education institutions so that Iraqi forces can prevent the return of Daesh. The end goal is a transition from foreigners training Iraqi troops to Iraqis training Iraqi troops.

Canadian contribution:

• Leading two training and advising teams;
• Leading one training team specializing in explosive ordnance disposal;
• Flying three CH-146 Griffon helicopters; and
• Moving passengers and equipment.

NATO Mission Iraq includes several hundred trainers, advisers and support staff from Allied countries and non-NATO partners, including Australia, Sweden, and Finland. Training is conducted in the area of Baghdad.

NATO Mission Iraq complements the broader international effort to help Iraq eradicate terrorism and increase the long-term stability of Iraq and the region.

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve

Operation IMPACT

Op IMPACT is part of Canada’s Whole of Government approach to the region. The CAF mission compliments the work of other Canadian government agencies such as Global Affairs Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to build the military capabilities of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon and set the conditions for their long-term success.

Operation IMPACT began as the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) support to the Global Coalition to degrade and ultimately defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

The coalition has been effective. Under the Command of Brigadier-General Michel-Henri St-Louis, Operation IMPACT on behalf of the CAF is continuing to work with partners in the region to set the conditions for stability and security.

Canada plays an important role in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon, alongside its partners. The CAF efforts in support of the Global Coalition improve Iraqi security forces capabilities. These efforts help Iraq to achieve long-term success in keeping its territory and people secure.