Canadian defense minister in Erbil, days after troops exchanged fire with ISIS

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Canada’s Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan arrived in Erbil on Sunday, days after Canadian trainers gave supporting fire to Kurdish Peshmerga forces facing the deadliest
ISIS-offensive since the deployment of western trainers to Iraq more than a year ago.

Sajjan, who had congratulated the Canadian troops after 69 special forces backed the Peshmerga in a lengthy firefight on multiple front-lines against the Islamic State group on Wednesday, arrived on an unannounced visit.

At least six Peshmerga were killed and 13 wounded in those confrontations. They killed about 70 of the attackers. None of the Canadians sustained any casualties or injuries.

Canadian forces, operating under an advisory role, have exchanged fire with ISIS on one other occasion in the past.