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 surprising here and it’s pretty much par for the course,” Thompson said, stressing he had no insider knowledge of current JTF2 plans.
JTF2 are also Canada’s designated hostage rescue unit and Thompson said they could be involved in helping the IDF plan rescue operations — but he did not suggest Canadian special operations forces would be planning any independent rescue efforts or participating with the Israeli efforts.
Despite being Canada’s designated hostage rescue unit, JTF2 has never carried out a hostage rescue operation.
Hamas and other militant groups claimed to have taken around 230 hostages on Oct. 7, when they attacked Israel and killed more than 1,400 people, according to the Israeli government. Two Canadians are presumed missing, though Global Affairs Canada has not confirmed Hamas captured them.
“There are still two Canadians missing. I believe they could well be hostages, in which case they may be part of the hostage rescue planning” Thompson said on The West Block, stressing he had no insider knowledge of current JTF2 plans.
Similar deployments took place in Ukraine and Afghanistan and CANSOFCOM assaulters were involved in the evacuation planning for Sudan.
Multiple sources said this deployment should not be interpreted as Canadian troops fighting or preparing to fight in Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israel was in a “second war of independence” (referencing the 1948 Arab-Israeli War when the newly declared Israeli state and Arab nations fought), Thompson told Stephenson he expects the IDF’s ground offensive to take months to complete its stated goal of destroying Hamas.
“This is extremely complicated,” he said.
“Hamas is — they’re on the home turf.”
Thompson said the Iraqi army, with American help, needed nine months to clear Mosul of ISIS fighters in 2017 and that Hamas has had much more time than ISIS did to prepare its defences, since no Israeli forces have been in Gaza since 2014.
He told Stephenson the recent IDF raids into the enclave were probably meant to gather intelligence and provide reconnaissance, which will help soldiers systematically isolate individual neighbourhoods.
“By isolate, I mean surround (with) armoured vehicles to make sure nothing gets in or out. And then they will clear it – buildings, ruins and tunnels in a meticulous fashion, in an effort to kill all the Hamas fighters, to destroy any equipment and weapons that they find” and rescue the roughly 230 hostages, Thompson said.
He told Stephenson Hamas will likely deploy improvised explosives and anti-tank guided weapons to stop the IDF and destroy Israeli armoured vehicles.
He said that’s why Israel is using its Merkava IV tanks, “which is almost indestructible” and is capable of shooting down incoming missiles.
“But at the ranges we’re talking about here in a closed in urban environment, it will be extremely tough for the Israelis,” Thompson said.
“And the advantage will, in some respects, be in Hamas’s side.”
Some of the worst fighting will likely come in the militant group’s tunnels underneath Gaza.
“It’s close-quarter combat that is extremely, extremely hazardous,” Thompson said.
He suggested IDF soldiers would likely use small drones to explore the underground network before sending troops in, and also said that Israelis could also use trained dogs with cameras that send a live images back to IDF personnel in order to plan their attack.
And while soldiers will likely be using night-vision goggles, Thompson said those need some light to work and that probably isn’t available underground, especially with Israel having cut electricity to Gaza. The IDF could use infrared floodlights to help, but Thompson warned Hamas fighters may also have the same equipment.
MONTREAL – One expert says entry-level pay under the tentative deal between Air Canada and its pilots could be a stumbling block ahead of a union vote on the agreement.
Under their current contract, pilots earn far less in their first four years at the company before enjoying a big wage increase starting in year five.
The Air Line Pilots Association had been pushing to scrap the so-called “fixed rate” provision entirely.
But according to a copy of the contract summary obtained by The Canadian Press, the proposed deal announced Sunday would merely cut the four-year period of lower pay to two years.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, says as many as 2,000 of Air Canada’s roughly 5,200 active pilots may earn entry-level wages following a recent hiring surge.
After the airline averted a strike this week, Gradek says the failure to ditch the pay grade restrictions could prompt pushback from rank-and-file flight crew and jeopardize the deal, which is up for a vote next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
ROME (AP) — Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at its home World Cup in 1990, has died. He was 59.
Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer.
The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.
Schillaci scored six goals for Italy during the 1990 World Cup. He came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria, scored in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. He only scored one other goal for Italy in his career.
Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.
“The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer (history),” Gravina said. “Totò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption. … His soccer was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”
Schillaci also won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 World Cup as the tournament’s top player ahead of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.
Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese team Jubilo Iwata during his club career.
“You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said on its social media channels.
West Germany won the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while Italy beat England for third place with a winning penalty kick from Schillaci.
Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy’s opening goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my dear friend.”
Having been born and raised in Palermo, the Palermo soccer team announced that it would hold a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
French soccer player Wissam Ben Yedder will stay free ahead of his trial on charges of sexual assault while intoxicated, one of his lawyers told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Marie Roumiantseva said Ben Yedder will remain under strict judicial supervision after a woman filed a lawsuit for sexual assault earlier this month.
The 34-year-old Ben Yedder, a prolific striker in the French league, was briefly detained then released after the alleged incident in his car on the French Riviera. Ben Yedder had been stopped by police after he first refused to do so. He was then put in a jail cell.
After he was summoned to appear in court on Oct. 15 and placed under judicial supervision, the Nice prosecutor’s office appealed the decision not to remand the player in custody. The investigative chamber of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence did not grant this request and kept Ben Yedder under judicial supervision.
Ben Yedder attended a hearing Tuesday during which he offered to go to rehab. He has admitted he drove while under the influence of alcohol but has denied any sexual assault.
In a separate legal case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with “rape, attempted rape and sexual assault” over another alleged incident in the south of France.
Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
