Canada announced Wednesday (July 11th) it will assume command of a new NATO training and capacity building mission in Iraq, sending up to 250 troops, armoured vehicles and four tactical helicopters to the country later this year, AFP reported.

The Canadian troops will be deployed in the Baghdad region starting in the fall of 2018 to help "Iraq build a more effective national security structure and improve training for Iraqi security forces", said a government statement.

"We are proud to take a leadership role in Iraq, and work with our allies and the government of Iraq, to help this region of the Middle East transition to long-lasting peace and stability," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

The Iraq mission will complement Canada's existing efforts as part of the international coalition fighting the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), to which it has been contributing air power, medical support and help in training Iraqi forces since 2014.

Canada also contributes to existing NATO efforts to train Iraqi forces to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs).