WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Canadian Special Forces have been involved in significantly more fighting with Daesh in Iraq since the operation to retake the city of Mosul from the terror group began, Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF) Commander Major-General Michael Rouleau said on Wednesday.
"In the execution of our advise-and-assist mandate there have been use of force engagements by CANSOF, especially in the past several weeks of Kurd offensive operations," Rouleau stated. "The number of use of force engagements in the past few weeks has been substantial."
Most of the incidents were in response to threats to Canadian or Kurdish Peshmerga troops or civilians, Rouleau explained.
Rouleau estimated that Canadian soldiers had engaged Daesh fighters "a few dozen times" since Iraq launched the Mosul offensive.
Previously, officials said Canadian troops had only used force against the militants 11 times since joining the US-led coalition combatting the terror group in 2014.
In October 2014, Canada launched Operation Impact in support of the US-led coalition against Daesh. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later withdrew fighter jets from the operation, but Canadian forces continue to train and assist Iraqi troops.
