Canadian soldiers involved in 2 more firefights with Islamic State militants

TORONTO – Canadian special forces in northern Iraq have engaged in two more firefights against Islamic State group militants.

Earlier this month in what was the first ground firefight between Western troops and the Islamic State group, Canadian soldiers engaged in a gun battle with militants after coming under a mortar and machine gun attack while conducting training at the front lines.

Capt. Paul Forget said Monday two similar events occurred over the last week and in both soldiers, acting in self-defense, returned fire and "neutralized" the threat.

Canada has 69 special forces soldiers with Kurdish fighters in what the government calls an advising and training role. A general has said they do 80 percent of the training and advising behind front lines and about 20 percent right at the front lines.