Sergeant Andrew Joseph Doiron was killed Friday in Iraq.
A Canadian commando was killed Friday after Kurdish Peshmerga fighters mistook Canadian soldiers for Islamic militants, opening fire on them as they approached a checkpoint at night.
Sgt. Andrew Joseph Doiron was killed and three others injured in the incident in northern Iraq. The soldiers were members of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment that is based in Petawawa. Doiron, 31, was born in Moncton, N.B., military sources say.
Peshmerga Commander Mosa Gardi told the Kurdish news agency Basnews that the wounded Canadians had been taken by helicopter to a hospital in Irbil.
He said the incident took place at night when there was intensive fighting between Peshmerga and gunmen from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).
“During fighting the Canadian advisers left their vehicle and walked to the area,” he told Basnews.
“They got very close to the fighting without our co-ordination and when the Peshmerga saw them, they asked who they were. The Canadians answered in Arabic, leading the Peshmerga to believe they were IS militants, and shot them.”
Gardi said if it wasn’t for the Canadians’ local driver they would have all been killed. He told the Peshmerga that they were Canadian advisers and not ISIS gunmen, he added.
The incident took place near the village of Bashiqa, north of Mosul.
Defence Minister Jason Kenny reacts to the death of Canadian soldier Sergeant Andrew Doiron, who was killed Friday while serving in Iraq.
Defence Minister Jason Kenny reacts to the death of Canadian soldier Sergeant Andrew Doiron, who was killed Friday while serving in Iraq.
Two Kurdish officials later told the AP that Doiron’s body was flown to Canada early Sunday following a military ceremony at Irbil International Airport. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief journalists.
Canadian Forces is still trying to confirm the details surrounding the shooting.
In Ottawa, Defence Minister Jason Kenney indicated he did not know about reports that Canadian soldiers approaching the Kurdish militia responded in Arabic when told to identify themselves.
“We’re going to wait for the inquiry. My understanding is the Canadian troops conducted themselves professionally (and) did what they were supposed to do in such a circumstance.”
The minister said the Canadian troops were not involved in any engagement with ISIS during, or close to, the incident.
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