OTTAWA — The government is facing calls to reconsider a plan to arm Kurdish fighters with automatic weapons and mortars because they could fall into enemy hands or be used to harm innocent civilians.
A number of analysts say Canada's decision might have long-term consequences, even if it does assist its best ally on the ground in the fight against the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Canada will triple its contingent of 69 special forces trainers working with Kurdish Peshmerga forces in northern Iraq — part of a retooled contribution that will also see CF-18 fighter jets end their bombing sorties there.
Thomas Juneau, a University of Ottawa security specialist, says arming the Kurds could lead to short-term gains, but could strain Canada's relations with Turkey because they are battling Kurdish rebels in their own country — a group Canada has listed as a terrorist organization.
Peggy Mason, president of the Rideau Institute, says there's a spotty history of weapons caches falling into the hands of ISIL throughout Libya, Syria and Iraq.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Canadian troops in Iraq have legal training on the laws of armed conflict and will report on any abuses.
