CAF soldiers 'safe and accounted for' after missile intercepted at Israel–Lebanon border

OTTAWA — The Department of National Defence said all Canadian Armed Forces members are safe and accounted for after a missile was intercepted on the Israel-Lebanon border on Sunday.

“CAF has received reports of damage near the Israel–Lebanon border at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Camp Naqoura, following a missile interception on March 22, 2026,” said DND spokesperson Daniel Blouin, in a statement. “Our CAF members deployed on Operation JADE are safe and accounted for.”

Blouin added that he could not provide more details due to operational security reasons.

UNFIL is a peacekeeping mission that was established in March 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. In a statement on March 18, UNFIL said recent escalation in the region marks a “worrying deterioration in the situation between Lebanon and Israel.”

“Heavy exchanges of fire, intensified air and ground activity, and increased presence of Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory are deeply concerning developments,” the statement said.

“UNIFIL peacekeepers remain in position throughout our area of operations in south Lebanon and along the Blue Line, reporting violations, liaising between the parties, and – where possible – facilitating humanitarian access and the protection of civilians,” the statement added.

According to the DND website, there are four CAF officers deployed under Operation Jade that serve as United Nations Military Observers.

The Israeli military said this week it plans to expand its ground and air attacks against the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

It was confirmed earlier this month that approximately 200 CAF personnel are stationed in the Middle East. Since the Iran War began, the defence minister’s office said efforts have focused on protecting CAF members, including relocating some within the region, staying in their location if force protection is appropriate, and where applicable, redeploying some back to Canada.

On Friday, CAF and its NATO allies withdrew personnel from Iraq.

Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed in a statement that CAF personnel and Canadian civilians deployed with the NATO Mission Iraq have been relocated to a secure location and are safe and accounted for.

“I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of NATO personnel from Iraq,” said General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, in a statement on Friday. “I would also like to thank the dedicated men and women of NATO Mission Iraq, who continued their mission throughout this period. They are true professionals.”

Grynkewich said NATO Mission Iraq will continue from Joint Force Command Naples.

McGuinty faced criticism recently by opposition parties in Parliament, for failing to inform them and the Canadian public about an Iranian strike that hit a base in Kuwait where CAF personnel were stationed. Members of Parliament and the public first found out about the strike 11 days after it occurred, through a story reported by Quebec newspaper La Presse.

On Thursday, McGuinty said he was informed “immediately” after the strike, in clarifying comments, after he said he was first informed about the strike through the La Presse story.

“This morning, I was referring specifically to my awareness of a media report and not to the strike itself, which I was informed about by Canadian officials,” said McGuinty.

Leaders of opposition parties have called for more transparency on the status of CAF personnel and assets in the conflict zone.

McGuinty has reiterated that CAF will play no offensive role in the Iranian conflict, but has left the door open for Canada to assist Gulf states.

On Saturday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand signed a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers, which said they stood ready to take necessary measures to ​support global energy supplies ​and reaffirmed the importance safeguarding the Strait of ​Hormuz.

The key maritime shipping lane for 20 per cent of global oil and gas supply has remained mostly closed since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

National Post

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