Global News has learned Canada's special operations forces have been deployed to Israel to assist with embassy security and liaising with the IDF.
Israel has escalated its offensive in Gaza– expanding its ground operation, unleashing more airstrikes, and knocking out communications in the regions. ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with retired Maj.-Gen. Denis Thompson, the former peacekeeping force commander of the Multinational Force and Observers, about the operational considerations for the Israeli ground offensive and the presence of Canadian Special Operations Forces in Israel.
The Canadian government often deploy special operations forces into tense environments to assist with intelligence gathering, evacuation planning, to provide security for embassies and to liaise with host militaries. Hamas and other militant groups claimed to have taken around 230 hostages on Oct. 7, when they attacked Israel and killed more than 1,400 people, according to the Israeli government. Two Canadians are presumed missing, though Global Affairs Canada has not confirmed Hamas captured them.
With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israel was in a “second war of independence” , Thompson told Stephenson he expects the IDF’s ground offensive to take months to complete its stated goal of destroying Hamas.Thompson said the Iraqi army, with American help, needed nine months to clear Mosul of ISIS fighters in 2017 and that Hamas has had much more time than ISIS did to prepare its defences, since no Israeli forces have been in Gaza since 2014.
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