The feds deny Canadian commandos are engaged in ground operations against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq.

A source close to the operations had told QMI Agency that members of the elite JTF2 (Joint Task Force 2) unit, armed with high-powered rifles, are involved in operations aimed at killing Islamist fighters far from the front lines.

The Canadians are officially in Iraq to accompany and train Kurdish and Iraqi snipers.

On Monday, the defence department said the troops are staying within that mandate and denied Canadians are "directly engaged in sniper activity against Islamic State." "CANSOFCOM's role in Iraq is to provide training, military advice and assistance teams," Maj.-Gen. Michael Hood, director of the Strategic Joint Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, said in a statement. "Members in Iraq are working within a well-defined mission that was passed in the House of Commons. We have been clear that this mission does not involve ground troops in a combat role."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in October that Canadian CF-18s would assist in airstrikes against ISIS and a small number of elite troops would help advise Iraqi and Kurdish forces, but Parliament didn't approve of Canadians engaging in the fight on the ground.

"CANSOFCOM is helping to provide Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) with military training such as shooting, movement, communications, and mission planning, as well as how to effectively employ their various weapons systems," Hood said in a release.

"The support provided to the people of Iraq by the Canadian Armed Forces demonstrates Canada's resolve to stand with our allies and make positive contributions to international security."

Neither Hood nor others contacted would say which special forces unit is in Iraq. JTF2 is one of five squads listed on CANSOFCOM's web page.

JTF2 "operators," as they prefer to be called, use a Macmillan TAC-50 rifle nicknamed "Big Mac."

It's the longest-range weapon available to snipers, with a range of 2.3 km.

The Big Mac has been standard issue for elite Canadian snipers since 2000.

QMI was unable to confirm if Canada provided TAC-50s to Iraqi and Kurdish snipers.

JTF2 previously waged a lengthy secret operation in Afghanistan. The Canadians were integrated into American and British special forces units.

Using their TAC-50s, two Canadian snipers set world records in March 2002 in Afghanistan's Shah-i-Kot valley. The Canadians killed enemy combatants at ranges of 2,310 and 2,426 metres.

The secret team of five JTF2 commandos killed more than 20 Taliban fighters at similar distances, earning Bronze Star Medals from the U.S. military.

In 2004, the JTF2 unit received the Presidential Unit Citation from then-president George W. Bush.