Canadian particular forces members are in Israel serving to Canada’s embassy there with “contingency planning,” a Division of Nationwide Defence spokesperson confirmed to CBC Information on Sunday.
“As there may be potential for the escalation of hostilities within the Center East, together with on the border separating Israel and Lebanon, World Affairs Canada has requested [Canadian Armed Forces] help to make sure a fast response ought to the safety state of affairs quickly deteriorate and help for the evacuation of Canadians is required,” the division stated in a press release.
“In help of World Affairs Canada, [Canadian Armed Forces] personnel from Canadian Particular Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) are aiding the Canadian embassy in Israel with contingency planning.”
In a press release earlier within the week, Defence Minister Invoice Blair stated 300 CAF members at the moment are within the area, with a process pressure headquartered in Cyprus.
Officers didn’t additional elaborate on what particular forces members have been doing within the space. World Information first reported Sunday that particular forces members have been current in Israel.
The Canadian navy has already been lively within the area because the battle between Israel and Hamas has intensified, for the reason that latter’s assaults on Oct. 7.
Army planes ran a number of evacuation flights from Israel to Greece within the weeks after the warfare started. On the time the flights ended, Canada had helped round 1,600 residents, everlasting residents and their households depart Israel.
Canada warned Saturday that residents in Lebanon ought to depart that nation whereas they nonetheless can. There’s vital concern that as preventing intensifies within the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah — an Iran-backed Lebanese political social gathering and armed motion that helps Hamas — might totally enter into the battle. There have already been clashes alongside the Israel-Lebanon border.
An estimated 40,000 to 75,000 Canadians reside in Lebanon at any given time, in accordance with authorities information.
