Tri-Service

Canadian Special Forces Help Fight Off 'Significant' ISIS Offensive

A contingent of Canada's elite commandos were thrown into a day-long battle alongside Kurdish Peshmerga fighters as they repelled an Islamic State offensive in Iraq.

The Canadian Department of National Defense announced the news at a news conference on Thursday evening.

U.S. media reports say Royal Air Force jets alongside American and French aircraft also flew strikes as the multi-pronged offensive against the Kurds dragged on for over 17 hours.

Canadian Armed Forces Maj.-Gen. Charles Lamarre told reporters in Ottawa Thursday about what he called “the largest event that the Canadian Armed Forces training up north have been involved in.”

A three-pronged assault, involving hundreds of extremists, took place along a wide front in the sector, northwest of the Kurdish capital of Irbil, where Canadian special forces have been training local forces.

A statement from Kurdistan Regional Security Council said "car bombs and mortars and rockets" were used to open up each attack on Wednesday and they were followed up by Islamic State fighters. In one area, Nawaran, extremists set off nine car bombs, according to local reports.

"They came under effective fire and our guys were close enough and able to respond with fire on to those ISIL positions," said Maj.-Gen. Charles Lamarre

There are 69 Canadian special forces trainers on the ground and the incident will likely re-ignite the debate about whether the troops are involved in combat.

"Our guys are always prepared because it's a dangerous environment and they need to defend not only themselves but the forces with which they are training and providing assistance," he said.

There were no Canadian casualties.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan issued a statement late Thursday, commending the troops for responding to the "co-ordinated attack."

"These actions illustrate the valuable contribution our forces are making to the (Kurdish Security Forces) and the fight against ISIL," he said.