ISIS mission: Despite Ramadi setback, battle not lost, Jason Kenney says

The seizure of Ramadi by ISIS is a regrettable setback, Defence Minister Jason Kenney says, but no indicationthat coalitionforces are losing the battle in Iraq against the militantorganization.

Kenneyalsostressed on Wednesday the importance of Canada's role in the mission, saying thatCanadian CF-18s have successfully struck a number of targets around Ramadi.

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"Sowe have done our part to continuedegradingthe capabilities of thatorganization," he said. "Justimagineifwe weren't there, how much more territory they would have claimed,"Kenneytold reporters following a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto

ISISseized control of the Iraqi city ofRamadi on Sunday, as Iraqi forces fled. The militants swept through Ramadi, seizing the main government headquarters and other key parts of the city. It marked a major setback for the Iraqi government's efforts to drive the militants out of areas they seized last year.

A 'wake-up call' for Iraq government

Canada's contribution to the coalition airstrike missionincludes sixCF-18Hornets,two CP-140 surveillance planes, one aerial tanker aircraft,600 Canadian Forces personneland 69 advisers providing strategic and tactical advice to Iraqi forces.

"We're not losing to ISIS," Kenney said.

"They were basically unstoppable in Iraq last summer, but since Canadianand other coalition airforcesand other military assets have come to bear, they have lostsignificant territory, capabilities and resources," he said.

"But obviously in anymilitary campaign, thereare going to be advances and setbacks. This is a regrettablesetback. It is an importantwake-up call to the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces."

Kenney repeated the government's pledge thatCanada has nointention of contributing ground forces to the missionand that the Iraqi security forces must be capable of defending theirown people and territory on the ground.

"Fundamentally, the outcomeof this struggleagainst [ISIS]will be determinedby the successor failure of the Iraqisecurityforces and certainlythat'stheir responsibility.We expect them to take it seriously."