News|MilitaryCanada PM Carney says unable to rule out military role in Iran warCanadian leader also said the US-Israeli attacks on Iran appear to be ‘inconsistent with international law’.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has addressed the potential for Canada's military involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Concurrently, he criticized the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran for being inconsistent with international law.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has addressed the potential for Canada's military involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Concurrently, he criticized the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran for being inconsistent with international law.
During a press conference in Canberra alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Carney was questioned about the circumstances under which Canada might participate in the conflict. He stated, “One can never categorically rule out participation,” emphasizing the hypothetical nature of the inquiry. He affirmed Canada's solidarity with allies, stating, “We will always defend Canadians.”
Carney expressed his support for the strikes on Iran, albeit with some reservations, as they signified a significant disruption to the global order. He noted that Canada was not pre-informed about the US-Israeli offensive, which began on Saturday, and highlighted that these actions were taken without engaging the United Nations or consulting allies, including Canada. He condemned civilian strikes in Iran and called for adherence to international engagement rules.
On the matter of legality, Carney commented that determining whether the US and Israeli actions violated international law is a decision for others to make.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has addressed the potential for Canada's military involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, reported efforts to assist over 2,000 Canadians seeking to exit the Middle East since the conflict's commencement. A significant number of inquiries originated from Canadians in the United Arab Emirates, with additional requests from Qatar, Lebanon, Israel, and Iran.
Anand announced plans to arrange charter flights from the UAE, pending approval for airspace use by the UAE government. The region is currently experiencing significant commercial flight disruptions, with major Gulf hubs largely inactive due to the conflict, marking the most substantial travel interruption since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Repatriation flights organized by various foreign governments, including the United Kingdom and France, were scheduled to depart on Wednesday and Thursday. The UAE has established safe air corridors for citizens returning home. Under usual circumstances, thousands of commercial flights operate daily from the region.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
