ERBIL, Iraq

The Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government expressed its sadness Sunday over the death of a Canadian soldier who was killed by friendly fire.

The "mistakenly engaged" fire by Iraqi peshmerga left Sergeant Andrew Joseph Doiron dead and three others injured on Saturday, which was the first fatality for Canada's troops in northern Iraq as they assist in the fight against Daesh (the Arabic acronym for ISIL).

"An undesired and saddening incident took place while conducting preparations for an operation against Daesh," said the statement by the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.

Canada had joined the fight against Daesh with 69 elite troops and 600 personnel in an "advisory and assistance role," according to the Canadian defense ministry.

The Kurdish defense ministry also expressed its gratitude for Canada's "courageous" decision to continue its operations in the region.