CANADIAN UNITS AT VANGUARD OF NEW ISIL OFFENSIVE: U. S.

U. S. military officers say that Canadian special forces are on the front lines of a new offensive in Iraq to retake villages from ISIL east of Mosul. The coalition troops were spotted with Kurdish forces as they prepared for battle on Sunday. As many as 5,500 Kurdish troops are attempting to seize villages located about 20 km east of Mosul. Heavy fighting was reported Sunday. Soldiers with the Canadian Special Operations Regiment from CFB Petawawa are in northern Iraq to train and advise the Kurds. A Reuters correspondent saw coalition soldiers loading armoured vehicles a few kilometres east of the frontline of the ongoing offensive. The soldiers spoke English and some had Maple Leaf insignia on their uniforms.