Canadian Peacekeepers Safe: UN Camp Damage Reported 🇨🇦

Canadian Armed Forces members stationed in the Middle East are safe following the interception of a missile near the Israel-Lebanon border on Sunday, according to the defence minister’s office.

Canadian Forces Safe After Missile Interception

Canada’s military received reports of damage at Camp Naqoura, a strategic headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Defence Minister David McGuinty’s press secretary, Maya Ouferhat, said in a statement. “Our CAF members deployed on Operation Jade are safe and accounted for,” Ouferhat stated.

The number of Canadian Armed Forces members currently deployed on Operation Jade, which began in the 1950s, remains unclear. McGuinty’s office cited operational security reasons for not providing further details.

The government website, last updated in 2024, indicated four officers were deployed as United Nations military observers, with a senior Canadian Armed Forces officer also joining the task force upon request. Deployment figures are subject to change based on operational requirements, according to McGuinty’s office.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon comprises more than 10,000 members and is tasked with maintaining peace in southern Lebanon. The peacekeeping force found itself in conflict following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, and was subsequently attacked by Israel, which accused them of obstructing operations.

The conflict in the Middle East expanded in early March when Hezbollah launched missiles toward Israel, following attacks by Israel and the U.S. on Iran. Israel’s military campaign escalated in recent days with strikes on infrastructure and orders to demolish homes near the southern border.

The Canadian government released information regarding the damage at the UN peacekeeping camp after facing criticism from the Conservatives. Conservative defence critic James Bezan called it “shameful” that the government did not initially disclose reports of a missile strike on an airbase in Kuwait where Canadian Armed Forces members are stationed. No Canadian military personnel were injured in that incident.

McGuinty’s office confirmed Friday that Canadian military members and civilians were among those NATO evacuated from Iraq amid retaliatory attacks from Iran and other Gulf countries during the U.S.-Israeli conflict.