Ottawa, September 17 (RHC)-- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his country has deployed 69 soldiers to Iraq to advise security forces fighting the ISIL Takfiri militants in the northern part of the violence-hit country.

Harper gave the figure to parliament on Tuesday as opposition parties asked for clarification of government statements which said "several dozen" special forces personnel had been sent to Iraq this month.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also said on Monday that Paris has joined the UK in carrying out reconnaissance flights over Iraq in support of the US-led coalition.

On Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said some "400 air personnel and about 200 military personnel" would be deployed to join the U.S.-led campaign against the ISIL.

Iraq has been fighting the ISIL terrorists since they took control of Mosul on June 10th. The Takfiri terrorists currently control parts of eastern Syria and Iraq's northern and western regions.

They have threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Izadi Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.