A small number of Canadian military members on exchange with U.S. forces in the Middle East are still on duty but have been reassigned to “other tasks” unrelated to the campaign against Iran, according to the Department of National Defence. About 18 Canadians are serving at various American headquarters in the region, such as the combined air operations center in Qatar, the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida.
The Defense Department stated that Canadian Armed Forces personnel currently deployed in the Middle East are carrying out their regular responsibilities not linked to U.S. operations in the area. It reiterated its previous statement that Canada is not involved in Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S. and Israeli initiative against Iran, and that Canadians did not participate in the planning process.
General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, mentioned that there are specific restrictions on what Canadian exchange officers can engage in before their deployment. Retired major-general Denis Thompson, a former senior commander with extensive regional experience, indicated that it was probable that the Canadian personnel were aware of the planning and coordination given the significant U.S. military presence in the region.
The Defense Department implied that the Canadians may have been kept uninformed about the operations, stating that host nations often conduct their operations without the involvement of exchange officers. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada and its allies were not forewarned by the U.S. or Israel about the attack on Saturday.
The Defense Department emphasized that Canadian military members cannot participate in operations with foreign militaries without the Canadian government’s approval. Questions regarding when Canadian military personnel were reassigned to other duties remain unanswered by the department.
The duties of the exchange officers, as outlined on the Defense Department’s website, involve acting as liaisons between the Canadian and American militaries. There has been no response from the department regarding whether there was prior communication through military channels or the status of aerospace controllers who collaborate with the U.S. military in managing air traffic in the Middle East.
The Defense Department assured that all Canadian personnel in the region are safe and have been located.