Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been relocated from Iraq alongside NATO allies as tensions in the Middle East intensify due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The alliance confirmed that all personnel involved in its non-combat advisory mission in Iraq have been safely moved to Europe. The mission, which has been active since 2018, focuses on strengthening Iraq’s security forces to counter extremist threats such as ISIS and will now continue operations from Joint Force Command Naples.
Canada’s Defence Minister David McGuinty stated that all Canadian military members and civilian staff involved in the mission have been relocated to secure locations and are safe. He emphasized that Canada continues to support international peace and stability while closely monitoring the evolving situation in the region.
Officials reiterated that Canadian forces have had no role in the current conflict and were not involved in any planning related to military operations. The relocation is being described as a precautionary measure in response to growing regional instability.
At present, Canada maintains approximately 200 military personnel across the Middle East as part of multiple operations. Some have been repositioned within the region or returned to Canada, although specific deployment details remain undisclosed for security reasons.
Separately, about 35 Canadian personnel working with a U.S. Air Force unit remain stationed in the United States and have not been deployed to the Persian Gulf. The American unit they are attached to has deployed surveillance aircraft to Saudi Arabia as part of broader regional monitoring efforts.
The move highlights rising concerns about safety and operational risks in the Middle East, as global powers continue to navigate a volatile and rapidly changing security landscape.