Canadian military personnel likely played a role in planning U.S. strikes on Iran, according to a retired general. The retired major-general, Denis Thompson, stated that Canadian service members participating in exchanges with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) were likely involved in targeting unless explicitly prohibited by the Canadian government. Thompson emphasized that this involvement is typical when Canadian officers are attached to another military during a conflict and the prime minister endorses the attack. The Canadian government has not explicitly barred participation, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed support for U.S. actions to destroy Iran's nuclear program. The Department of National Defence confirms the presence of up to 18 Canadian military personnel on exchange with the U.S. in Bahrain and Qatar during the attack. The U.S. and Israeli forces have conducted nearly 900 strikes on Iranian targets in the first 12 hours of the campaign, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Iran has responded by firing missiles at neighboring Arab Gulf states, causing explosions and prompting people to seek shelter. The Canadian Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, has condemned the Iranian regime's attacks and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people. Thompson also highlighted the potential risks of the ongoing conflict, including the depletion of high-value defensive measures like Patriot missile batteries and the possibility of a wider war across the Middle East.
