A video of a Canadian military veteran fighting alongside Kurdish forces in the battle against Islamic State militants in Iraq has emerged on Facebook, and his parents say the footage makes them proud.
Dillon Hillier, a retired corporal who served in Afghanistan and the son of Ontario Conservative MPP Randy Hillier, went to northern Iraq last month to help the Kurdish fighters.
On Monday, 1st North American Expeditionary Force, a group assisting Canadian veterans who want to volunteer in the fight against ISIS, posted a video on its Facebook page that appears to show Hillier bandaging an injured Kurdish fighter. Gunfire is repeatedly heard in the background.
In the video, a man can be heard saying in English: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 all I can do for him right now, man,鈥� as the bandage is wrapped around another man鈥檚 head.
In the Facebook post, signed only with initials 鈥淒H,鈥� the author writes: 鈥淭he day I helped Kurdish defense forces liberate 鈥� from the clutches of evil was the greatest day of my life.
鈥淚 accomplished more good in those 20 hours than the previous 26 years of my life. I dragged a man who had been shot in the face to safety and patched him up, while many others stood around in shock. I am unsure if my actions saved his life but I truly hope so.鈥�
In a statement, Randy Hillier and his wife Jane confirmed that their son has shared videos from Iraq online.
鈥淲e have seen these videos and they only reaffirm how proud we are of our son, and that his courage and efforts exemplify his true character,鈥� the Hilliers said.
鈥淲e have spoken with Dillon and have told him how proud we are to be his parents.鈥�
The Hilliers said they won鈥檛 be making any further comment, 鈥渁s our priority remains to keep him safe and secure.鈥�
Over the past few months, there have been other reports of retired Canadian military personnel wanting to join the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Foreign Minister John Baird and Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney have publicly warned against Canadians engagingin combat activity abroad or travellingto Iraq and Syria.
1st North American Expeditionary Force says it is not asking veterans to join the fight against ISIS, but is offering support and advice for those who do decide to volunteer.
