(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was briefed on developments in the Middle East after Israel announced the closure of its airspace, a spokesperson for his office said Saturday.
Ann-Clara Vaillancourt posted a message on the social network X, saying that the Canadian government was closely monitoring the situation. His comment came shortly after Iranian state television announced that Tehran had fired ballistic missiles at targets in Israel.
“The Prime Minister was briefed by the National Security and Intelligence Advisor, the Chief of Defense Staff and the Clerk of the Privy Council regarding developments in the situation in the Middle East,” he said. she writes.
Israel closed its airspace on Saturday in anticipation of the attacks.
The conflict between the two countries intensified this week after an airstrike blamed on Israel destroyed the Iranian consulate in Syria, and Iran vowed revenge.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Friday that Canadians should avoid travel to Israel due to increased risk.
She said Canadians who remain in Israel should leave by commercial means.
Meanwhile, Air Canada announced that its Saturday flight to Tel Aviv was canceled. The airline operates four non-stop round-trip flights per week from Toronto to Tel Aviv. The next one is scheduled for Monday.
“We have also implemented a flexible rebooking policy for guests and will continue to monitor the situation in the region and adjust our schedule accordingly,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Conservative MP Michael Chong, the party’s foreign affairs spokesman, said his party condemned the Iranian attack and stood with Israel.
“Conservatives call on the Trudeau government to work with Canada’s allies to ensure Israel’s security and regional stability,” he wrote on X.