Canadian Special Forces Sent to Israel for ‘Contingency Planning’

Members of 437 Transport Squadron help with the assisted departure of evacuees from Tel Aviv, Israel to Athens, Greece as part of Operation ION on 15 October 2023. Corporal Charles Audet, Canadian Armed Forces Photo

The Canadian military has dispatched a group of elite soldiers to Israel to evacuate Canadian citizens en masse if deemed necessary, says the Department of National Defence (DND).

“In support of Global Affairs Canada, CAF personnel from Canadian Special Operations Forces Command are assisting the Canadian embassy in Israel with contingency planning,” a DND spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email statement.

DND says the potential for escalating hostilities in the region, including at the Israel-Lebanon border, has led Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to request support from the military.

This is to “ensure a rapid response should the security situation rapidly deteriorate and support for the evacuation of Canadians is required,” says DND.

Global News first reported on Oct. 29 the involvement of special operations personnel in Israel, noting it includes members of Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2). JTF-2 is Canada’s most elite military unit and has a counter-terrorism and hostage rescue mandate.

The Canadian government says that six Canadians have been killed and two others have gone missing since Hamas conducted a raid inside Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people. Hamas has taken over 200 hostages.

Ottawa has not acknowledged that Canadians have been taken hostage, but the son of one presumed hostage, Vivian Singer, has expressed concerns that Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza could end the chance of his mother being brought home safely.

“I don’t know how much power Canada has, but it seems like they’re very much invested in doing everything they can,” Yonatan Zeigen said.

DND has not indicated any role for JTF-2 in the hostage rescue, but the U.S. Pentagon confirmed its special operations forces are in Israel in that capacity.

“We are providing planning and intelligence support to the Israelis, as it pertains to hostage recovery,” said Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder on Oct. 19.

U.S. President Joe Biden met with some of the elite soldiers while visiting Israel on Oct. 18, with the White House posting on social media a picture of the men with their faces visible, hence breaking a security protocol. The photo was deleted shortly after.

Cyprus

Along with sending military personnel to Israel, Canada has also established a task force in Cyprus to help with the potential evacuation of Canadian citizens and permanent residents located in Lebanon. DND says 300 Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been deployed for this effort.

GAC has sent a message to Canadians in Lebanon via diaspora media, telling them to “Get out while you can” and to not rely on the government for evacuation.

“The best time to leave a country is before a crisis if at all possible. They should leave by commercial means now if they can do so safely.”

Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in 2006, prompting Canada to launch an evacuation operation using ships. DND says almost 15,000 people were taken to Cyprus, with citizens of other countries also being evacuated.

There have been skirmishes between Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah since Oct. 7, but no wider hostilities.

While both are backed by Iran, Hezbollah is much better equipped than Hamas, with precision missiles and armed drones. It also has a battle-tested ground force which as propped-up the Assad regime since early in the Syrian civil war.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.