Canada to Cease ISIS Airstrikes This Month

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Canada will halt its participation in coalition airstrikes against ISIS fighters by Feb. 22. The country will at the same time add to on-the-ground efforts, including tripling the number of its special-forces personnel training Iraqi forces. Of the decision, Trudeau said, “It is important to understand that while airstrike operations can be very useful to achieve short-term military and territorial gains, they do not on their own achieve long-term stability for local communities.” Canadian armed forces members will add 230 members to the 600 already deployed as part of a joint task force.