Kurds killed 1 Canadian soldier, and injured 3.
Andrew Joseph Doiron, Canadian Soldier, Dies In Iraq As Result Of Friendly Fire, 3 Others Injured
OTTAWA — Canada suffered its first fatality in the current war in Iraq on Friday after friendly fire claimed the life of a special forces member.
Sgt. Andrew Joseph Doiron was killed on March 6, at 11:50 p.m. local time. Members of the Special Operations Forces were “mistakenly engaged by Iraqi Kurdish forces following their return to an observation post behind the front lines,” the Department of National Defence said.
Three other soldiers were also wounded and are receiving medical care for their injuries, National Defence said. The department would not say how extensive their injuries were but Defence Minister Jason Kenney said Saturday afternoon that they were in “stable condition.”
Doiron was based at the Canadian Special Operations Regiment in Petawawa, Ont.
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Tom Lawson, said in a statement that Doiron was an invaluable member of the family. “A soldier and a warrior, Sergeant Doiron was a consummate professional appreciated by all. His sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
Brig.-Gen. Michael Rouleau, head of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, said every member of the Special Operations Forces Command felt a great loss at Doiron’s death.
“He was a gifted special operator and a great leader. He loved his job and the people he soldiered with. We grieve with Drew’s family and extend our condolences to them. Our thoughts are also with our three injured operators. We will bring Drew home with all dignity and wrap our arms around our injured Brothers and we will carry on with our important mission in Iraq,” Rouleau said.
In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his condolences to Doiron’s family and said he and his wife, Laureen, offer their prayers for the speedy recovery of the three other soldiers. The prime minister also used his statement to pledge continued support for the mission in Iraq.
“Almost daily, we see new evidence of the violent threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. More than ever, it is imperative that we, along with the more than 60 countries in the coalition, continue the campaign to halt ISIL’s spread and reduce its capacity to carry out terrorist attacks abroad and here in Canada,” Harper said.
“Our government and the Canadian Armed Forces take the duty to protect Canadians seriously. Part of that duty requires us to stand tall and shoulder our share of the burden in the fight against ISIL. We are proud to do our part, and grateful to the men and women to whom it falls to carry out our commitment to peace and security.”
Kenney said the government remains committed to the mission and the fight against ISIL's campaign of hatred and terror.
Doiron was part of a team of 69 special forces members sent to Iraq to help in Operation IMPACT, Canada’s six-month contribution to the international coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant — commonly referred to as ISIL or ISIS.
The special forces are there to provide military advice and assistance to Iraqi forces fighting to turn back ISIL’s advances. During the past five months, Canadian forces have returned fire on
several occasions in self-defence.
The Department of National Defence said there are approximately 600 personnel, including aircrew support, participating in Operation IMPACT. In addition to the 69 special forces members advising Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Canada is also contributing six CF-18 fighter jets, one air-to-air refuelling aircraft, and two Aurora surveillance aircraft to the international coalition.
The mandate for the Iraq mission ends on April 7, but the Conservative government has
strongly hinted that it will propose that Parliament extend the mission. Several cabinet ministers have suggested, however, that the government won’t propose ground combat operations.
Andrew Joseph Doiron, Canadian Soldier, Dies In Iraq As Result Of Friendly Fire, 3 Others Injured
