Small team of Canadian special ops deployed to Israel after Oct. 7 attack: sources
A small team of Canadian special operations forces have deployed to Israel in the wake of the October 7 attack, Global News has learned from multiple sources with direct knowledge of the mission.
The deployment includes Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), Canada’s most elite and secretive military special forces unit. Joint Task Force 2 is Canada’s national mission force responsible for the most dangerous and sensitive missions the military undertakes, including counterterrorism and hostage rescue.
Sources told Global News the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) troops in Israel are dealing with security at the Canadian embassy (including any possible future evacuation of essential staff) and liaising with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
That is consistent with what retired Major-General Denis Thompson, a former CANSOFCOM commander, would expect, telling Mercedes Stephenson on The West Block that the special operations forces typically deploy to crisis areas quickly owing to their high state of readiness and agility, activating an “immediate task force” which enables them to draw on JTF2 and other units to accomplish their mission.
Thompson also commanded the Multinational Force and Observers during Israel’s last ground operation into Gaza in 2014. The peacekeeping force was established by the 1978 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty known as the Camp David Accords.
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.
“There’s certainly a close relationship between Canada Special Operations Forces and the Israeli Defense Forces… so there’s nothing
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