Canada announced Monday (March 18th) the extension of military training missions in Iraq, AFP reported.

The mission had been slated to wrap up at the end of March, but security concerns persist.

Canada will keep 250 special forces troops advising and training Iraqi security forces, plus several attack helicopters, as part of the international coalition against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) mission until the end of March 2021.

The number of troops deployed could ramp up to 850, if needed, and they will also help neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon build their respective security capabilities, said officials.

Complementing those efforts, Canada last November assumed command of a new NATO mission. It has been contributing air power, medical support and help in training Iraqi forces since 2014.

"We have made significant and lasting progress, but we recognise that more work is needed. Now we must ensure that ISIS can never rebuild and threaten the safety of Iraq," Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan told a press conference.