Trudeau condemns Iranian regime

Canada “unequivocally condemns” Iran’s attacks on Israel, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday evening as tensions boiled over between the two countries and pushed the Middle East closer to a regionwide war.

Trudeau’s statement came after Iran’s state-run media announced Tehran had fired ballistic missiles at targets inside Israel on Saturday in what was Iran’s first direct military attack on the country.

“These attacks demonstrate yet again the Iranian regime’s disregard for peace and stability in the region. We support Israel’s right to defend itself and its people from these attacks,” Trudeau said at a parliamentary press gallery dinner.

He said he’s getting regular updates from the national security and intelligence adviser, the chief of the defence staff and the chief of the Privy Council.

Israel closed its airspace Saturday in anticipation of Iran’s attacks and by early Sunday, booms and air-raid sirens sounded across the country.

Conflict between Israel and Iran heightened after an airstrike blamed on Israel destroyed Iran’s consulate in Syria and killed two Iranian generals. Tehran vowed revenge.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Friday that Canadians should avoid all travel to Israel in light of the elevated risk. She said Canadians who remain in Israel should leave “by commercial means.”

Israel’s ambassador to Canada thanked Trudeau and Joly for their words of support. “Israel will continue to defend itself against hostile attacks from Iran and all of its proxies in the region. Iran is attempting to disrupt regional stability and we thank our allies for their support as these events unfold,” Iddo Moed said in a statement.