CORRECTED-UPDATE 3-Canada to end bombing missions in Iraq and Syria

(Corrects to make clear Canadian bombing mission started in
November 2014, not April 2015, paragraph 2)
By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau said on Monday Canada would pull out six jets that have
been bombing targets in Iraq and Syria, ending a controversial
combat role in the fight against Islamic State.
Trudeau's Liberals won an election last October promising to
withdraw the jets but came under pressure from allies who feared
the decision could weaken efforts to combat the militant group.
Bombing began in November 2014 under the previous Conservative
government.
"We can't do everything .. we were guided by our desire to
do what we could do best to help in the region and to do it in
the right way," Trudeau told a news conference.
"The people terrorized by (Islamic State) every day don't
need our vengeance, they need our help."
Canada will end its bombing missions by Feb. 22 but keep two
surveillance planes in the region as well as refueling aircraft,
and triple the number of soldiers training Kurdish troops in
northern Iraq to about 200.
Officials in the United States welcomed the announcement,
which came after sustained diplomatic pressure from major allies
to persuade Canada to do as much as possible.
"I'm confident we are going to continue to have discussions
with the Canadians about additional steps they can take to
further enhance our counter-ISIL efforts," said White House
spokesman John Earnest.
He said Trudeau had talked to Obama on Monday. The two will
meet in Washington next month.
Canada's decision came as the Syrian army advanced towards
the Turkish border on Monday in an offensive backed by Russia
and Iran.
Trudeau said the new mission would be engaged for at least
two years and then be re-evaluated. The best way to promote
long-term stability was to help local people fight to get their
territory back, he added.
Canadians' appetite for foreign military missions dropped
after 10 years of involvement in Afghanistan that ended in 2011,
during which 158 soldiers were killed.
Last March, one Canadian soldier died and three others were
injured in a friendly fire incident in Iraq.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan conceded there would still be
risks for the trainers.
"This is a conflict zone and a very high threat
environment," he said by phone.
Opinion polls show Canadians are sharply divided over the
role of the armed forces in the fight against Islamic State.
The Conservatives said the announcement was "a shameful step
backward" from Canada's military tradition.