Canadian special operations forces were involved in a deadly firefight with Islamic State fighters in Iraq on Monday, Defense News reported.
A top Canadian general disclosed the information, marking "the first official acknowledgement that Western troops are leaving their forward operating bases and have engaged in combat in Iraq while training and advising Iraqi and Kurdish forces."
The Canadian forces came under fire after completing a planning session with Iraqi leaders.
Canadian snipers quickly opened up on the targets "neutralizing the mortar and the machine-gun position," he said.
There are 69 Canadian special operations forces working in Iraq, operating under an April deadline for ending their mission, along with a number of regionally-based Canadian CF-18 Hornet aircraft taking part in the coalition bombing campaign aimed at IS targets as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
In a surprising bit of openness about a mission often clouded in secrecy, Rouleau also confirmed that his operators have called in airstrikes for coalition aircraft from the ground, and have used lasers to designate targets.
