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Canadian troops have engaged in a substantial number of clashes with Islamic State gunmen in the last several weeks but commanders are still insisting such actions don’t rank as being part of a combat mission.

Anti-tank missiles have been fired by Canadian special forces and gunfire exchanged.

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Iraqi security forces as well as the Canadian-backed Kurdish troops have been advancing on the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul and have engaged in heavy combat.

The number of such clashes involving Canadian commandos has been “substantial” and involves several dozen incidents, special forces commander Maj. Gen. Mike Rouleau revealed Wednesday at a briefing in Ottawa.

“This is the reality of modern conflict,” he added.

“There have been a substantial number of engagements.”

Canadian special forces have used anti-tank missiles on three occasions to destroy Islamic State suicide vehicles, Rouleau said.