NTAMUGENGA, DR Congo: The UN special force in the Democratic Republic of Congo fired mortar rounds at M23 rebels on Monday, engaging in what appeared to be its first direct combat against the rebellion since the Congolese army launched a major assault late October.

A UN source said the brigade fired mortar rounds after getting the “green light” to bombard the last positions of the M23.

“Our targets are... Runyonyi and Chanzu,” said another source in the brigade, referring to two hilltops about 80 kilometers north of regional capital Goma, at about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), where dozens of holdout rebels have dug in.

“There is some resistance. We will continue to fire until everything is under control,” added the source.

The heavily-armed 3,000-strong UN intervention brigade joined 17,000 peacekeepers already deployed with a mission to carry out offensive operations against the rebel fighters, who are accused of human rights abuses including rape, murder and recruiting child soldiers.

It fought alongside Congolese forces in August.

But since the army began its major offensive against the rebels on October 25, it has not been known to have participated directly in the fighting, until Monday’s shelling.

Rather, it has been backing the Congolese forces with aerial reconnaissance, intelligence and planning.