Canadian soldiers are not authorized to engage in direct combat but they can fire their weapons to protect themselves or Iraqi soldiers they are assisting.

The Canadian sniper team had spotted Islamic State fighters approaching Iraqi security forces, who were unaware that they were about to be ambushed. Using a McMillan TAC-50 rifle, the sniper did not expect to hit the target at such a distance, but hoped his “harassing fire” would frighten the enemy combatants to flee. However, an Islamic State fighter was killed, which allowed the Iraqi Security forces to continue their advance, Gen. Rouleau said.