OTTAWA—Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unequivocally condemned Iran’s attacks on Israel on April 13, as tensions escalated between the two nations, bringing the Middle East closer to a potential region-wide conflict.
Trudeau’s statement followed Iran’s state-run media announcement of firing ballistic missiles at Israeli targets on April 13, marking Iran’s first direct military strike on the country.
Trudeau emphasized, “These attacks once again showcase the Iranian regime’s disregard for peace and stability in the region. We stand with Israel in its right to defend itself and its citizens from these aggressions,” as he addressed reporters at a Parliamentary press gallery event.
He mentioned receiving regular updates from key security and intelligence officials regarding the situation. Additionally, reports from Israel indicated that Iran had launched over 100 bomb-laden drones towards the country.
According to U.S. officials speaking anonymously, some of the missiles en route to Israel were intercepted.
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As a precautionary measure, Israel closed its airspace on April 13 in anticipation of further attacks from Iran.
The conflict between the two nations escalated following an airstrike in Syria, attributed to Israel, that resulted in the destruction of Iran’s consulate and the deaths of two Iranian generals. Iran vowed retaliation in response to the attack.
On April 12, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly advised Canadians to avoid travel to Israel due to the heightened risk. She recommended that Canadians currently in Israel depart using commercial means.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, echoing condemnation of the attacks, emphasized the importance of Canada collaborating with allies to hold Iran accountable.
He stated, “The Government of Canada must take immediate action to ban the Tehran-controlled terrorist group, IRGC, in order to safeguard our citizens and prevent the regime from using our country for fundraising, planning, and coordination,” in a written statement.
Recent months have seen mounting pressure on the federal government to designate the IRGC, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of Iran’s military, as a terrorist organization.
NDP Member of Parliament Heather McPherson, serving as the party’s foreign affairs critic, expressed concerns about the potential human toll of a regional conflict.
“Diplomacy remains the only viable solution. It is imperative for Canada and the global community to de-escalate this crisis promptly,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Meanwhile, Air Canada announced the cancellation of its April 13 flight to Tel Aviv, with the airline operating four non-stop return flights per week from Toronto to Tel Aviv. The next scheduled flight is on April 15.
A spokesperson mentioned, “We have implemented a flexible rebooking policy for customers and will continue to monitor the situation in the region, adjusting our schedule accordingly.”
