US John Kerry Lauds Canada's Decision To Join Iraq Mission

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry thanked Canada Wednesday for agreeing to join in airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Kerry took to Twitter to express his appreciation a day after a controversial motion to join the war in Iraq passed in House of Commons by a vote of 157-134.

Appreciate our friend #Canada’s commitment to coalition to degrade/defeat#ISIL.

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) October 8, 2014

Kerry also responded to a tweet from Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, saying the world is proud of Canada's example.

World proud of #Canada’s example MT @HonJohnBaird threat posed by ISIL is real. We debated motion to participate in air strikes against ISIL

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) October 8, 2014

The White House released a statement Tuesday saying the United States welcomes Canada's deployment of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in the campaign, as well as humanitarian aid and troops to advise Iraqi Security Forces.

"With these deployments, Canada demonstrates its continued leadership and resolve in addressing the urgent and critical security challenges that threaten Canada, its people, and the broader international community," the statement read. "Canadians and Americans have fought alongside each other in several major conflicts over the past century, and we are grateful for Canada’s further contribution against terrorism."

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