Iranian-backed Shia militias embedded alongside Iraqi security forces are now a bigger threat than the fragmented fighting power of former Islamic State extremists, a senior Canadian military commander told a House of Commons committee today. (Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images)The Iranians fired ballistic missiles into two Iraqi bases used by coalition forces, including Canadians, but have thus far taken no further retaliatory action. The militias became highly integrated with Iraqi forces during the battles to expel ISIS from the northern part of the country, including the prolonged fight for Iraq's second largest city, Mosul. "These Shiite militia groups we're concerned about are very well equipped," Rouleau told MPs. Conservative defence critic James Bezan said he wondered how much support there was for the Shia militias within the Iraqi government itself.

Source: CBC News March 09, 2020 22:59 UTC