they have been during the push to try to get this city back from isis control. couple days ago their convoy was leading the operation when it came under heavy fire. this was incredibly dangerous. at a time they didn't think they were going to make it through. this is a story you will only see on cnn. >> reporter: after three weeks of this offensive the iraqi military is at last about to enter month sewell. the men of the elite forces are in high spirits but after the open plains of northern iraq they were about to meet a terrible new reality. this not a place these sourlds know but their enemy does.