Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has made an unannounced visit to Baghdad to discuss Canada's role in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"Due to security concerns in the region, we do not publicise his travel until after he has departed," Sajjan spokeswoman Jordan Owens confirmed in an email to CBC News.

But news of the minister's trip became public when local media posted footage of the visit to YouTube, Owens said.

Owens said the defence minister is meeting with Iraqi and Kurdish officials about "Canada's ongoing contribution" to the global fight against ISIS.

U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter also arrived on a surprise visit to Baghdad on Monday, where he announced the United States will send 560 more troops to Iraq to transform a freshly retaken air base into a staging hub for the long-awaited battle to recapture Mosul from ISIS militants.

Sajjan is expected to leave the region and return to Canada on Thursday.