Mark Carney doesn’t rule out Canada joining war– Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said he could not categorically exclude Canadian military participation in the escalating US-Israel war on Iran, as Israel launched fresh strikes on Tehran and Iranian missile attacks continued into a sixth consecutive day.
His remarks underscore growing international pressure on Western governments to define their positions in a conflict that has rapidly widened beyond its initial theatres.
Appearing alongside Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Carney acknowledged that the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran were “inconsistent with international law,” but added that Canada would “stand by our allies.”
The statement places Ottawa in a delicate diplomatic position: critical of the legal basis of the operation, yet unwilling to distance itself from Washington and its broader alliance commitments.
The comments come amid intensifying Israeli air operations over Tehran. Israeli military officials confirmed additional strikes targeting what they described as strategic infrastructure linked to Iran’s military and security apparatus. Iranian state media reported explosions in parts of the capital and surrounding areas, while air defence systems were activated overnight.
In response, Iran launched another round of missiles towards Israeli territory. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and other population centres, though there were no immediate reports of fatalities from the latest exchange.
The ongoing Iranian missile attacks on Israel have heightened fears of miscalculation, particularly as civilian airspace across the region remains partially closed.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel and the United States had achieved “historic gains” in their joint campaign. A spokesperson for his office claimed that the operation was necessary because Iran was using new underground bunkers to rebuild elements of its nuclear programme. Tehran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons and has characterised the strikes as unprovoked aggression.
US president Donald Trump hailed the performance of American forces, stating that operations were progressing beyond expectations.
He suggested that senior Iranian figures were being systematically targeted and indicated that military pressure would continue until US objectives were met. The rhetoric signals no imminent de-escalation from Washington.
In London, British prime minister Keir Starmer confirmed that HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, would depart for the eastern Mediterranean next week.
The deployment follows drone activity that struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus earlier in the week. Defence minister Al Carns said the vessel required final weapons system adjustments before sailing, pushing back against criticism that the UK had reacted too slowly to the crisis.
The maritime dimension of the conflict has also expanded. A US submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka, according to US officials. Sri Lankan authorities reported recovering dozens of bodies. The incident illustrates how the US-Israel war on Iran is affecting regions far beyond the Middle East.
Elsewhere, Turkish officials said a ballistic missile launched from Iran towards Israeli targets crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being intercepted by Nato air defence systems as it approached Turkish airspace. The interception highlights the growing risk of the conflict spilling into additional sovereign territories.
Along Iran’s northern border with Iraq, intense waves of airstrikes have targeted frontier posts and military positions. Analysts believe the strikes may be preparing the ground for potential Kurdish movements from northern Iraq, with US air support reportedly under consideration if such a cross-border operation materialises.
Any opening of a northern front would significantly complicate Tehran’s defensive posture.
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area long associated with Hezbollah influence. Lebanese health authorities reported fatalities in separate attacks along the airport highway. Israel has urged residents south of the Litani River to evacuate, signalling possible further operations.
Meanwhile, Spain reaffirmed its opposition to the use of its military bases in operations against Iran. Although the White House suggested Madrid had agreed to cooperate, Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares insisted Spain’s position “has not changed at all,” reflecting divisions within Nato over the scope and legitimacy of the campaign.
As the crisis deepens, the question of broader allied involvement looms large. Mark Carney doesn’t rule out Canada joining war, but his cautious phrasing suggests Ottawa is weighing both alliance solidarity and domestic political considerations.
Canadian military participation could range from logistical support and intelligence sharing to naval deployments or air defence contributions.
Read also: Starmer says UK will not join Iran war without legal basis amid Trump criticism
With Iranian missile attacks on Israel continuing and Western military deployments increasing, the conflict shows little sign of immediate containment. The coming days may determine whether allied caution prevails or whether further internationalisation becomes inevitable.
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