How deep will the U.S. be pulled into the Israel-Iran war?
U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently denied his country's involvement in the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran. But Andrew Chang explains the role the U.S. has already played — and the extent to which that involvement may still increase. Images provided by Getty Images, The Canadian Press and Reuters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Canadians fleeing war in Iran face obstacles in absence of diplomatic ties
Canadian physician Panid Borhanjoo woke up on Friday morning in Iran's cottage country to an onslaught of messages from family and friends asking if he was safe. He turned on the news in his relatives' home in Mazandaran, a lush, coastal province on the Caspian Sea. Israeli missiles had destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities and killed high-ranking military personnel in Tehran, about 200 kilometres away. War had erupted. Dr. Borhanjoo and his family packed their belongings and returned to their apartment in Tehran, the Iranian capital. He had visited his home country many times, despite years of travel warnings and sporadic missile strikes. But now, on this visit, he was hearing missiles fly overhead and explode nearby, and watching smoke and flames billow out of a building across the street. He knew he had to leave. Canada, which severed diplomatic relations with Iran more than a decade ago, had announced no plans to stage an evacuation. Dr. Borhanjoo tried calling Canadian embassies in Turkey and Syria but there was no answer. He quickly realized he could not depend on his own government for help. 'If this country wasn't going to provide me with a safe way out, which it didn't seem like, I had to find my own way out,' he said in an interview on Wednesday. Iran's escalating conflict with Israel has prompted Global Affairs Canada to urge Canadians in Iran to leave the country. However, Canadians trying to get out are largely on their own, with Iranian airspace closed and border crossings difficult and dangerous. The Canadian government cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2012 for supporting terrorist regimes and violating human rights. As a result, the ability of Canadian officials to provide assistance in Iran is 'extremely limited,' according to Global Affairs' Iran travel advisory. Canada's relations with Tehran stuck in deep freeze, despite Iranian hopes Evacuation operations require co-ordinating efforts with local authorities, which is not possible in the current climate, said Christian Leuprecht, a military expert and government relations professor at Queen's University and Royal Military College. 'Unless there's a significant change in the political conditions in Iran, nobody's evacuating anybody from Iran,' Prof. Leuprecht added. There are more than 4,000 Canadians in Iran registered with Global Affairs. During emergencies while abroad, Canadians are typically encouraged to go to the Canadian embassy or the U.S. embassy. Iran has neither. The closest Canadian embassy is in Turkey, roughly 2,000 kilometres from Tehran. 'The advice in those situations will usually be that it is the responsibility of citizens,' Prof. Leuprecht said. 'It is your responsibility as a citizen to find your way out of the country and if you can find your way out of the country, then we will help to repatriate you. The problem is there's very few places where Canadians could seek shelter.' The conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating, with the United States now threatening to intervene. Israel and Iran have so far exchanged hundreds of missiles. A timeline of the Israel-Iran conflict and tensions between the two countries 'In terms of Canada being able to co-ordinate … a mass exodus, it's super challenging in a war zone,' said Dennis Horak, Canada's last Head of Mission to Tehran. 'Nobody really has any good options at this point in trying to help people get out.' Canadians have limited escape routes. Theft and kidnapping are not uncommon along the Iranian land borders. Bandits patrol Iran's border with Pakistan and Afghanistan, enduring conflict keeps Iran's border with Iraq closed, and roads leading to Turkey and Azerbaijan are dilapidated. Dr. Borhanjoo did not wait for a response from Canada. He planned his escape route early on Saturday morning. Within hours he had secured a driver and was headed to Turkey, where he made it across the mountainous border at night and caught a flight from Van to Istanbul, and then to Toronto, on Tuesday. 'I think anyone who has the capacity to leave the country should leave,' he said. However, in the few days since Dr. Borhanjoo fled, the roads leaving Tehran have become crowded with vehicles, making it more difficult to get out. He fears for his family sheltering in Iran, who are older and less mobile. Despite living in Canada for 21 years, Dr. Borhanjoo says his heart and soul are still in Iran. But he is unsure when he will be able to return. 'I don't foresee the rest of the country even being safe any more. I don't think Iran in general is a safe place to be,' he said.
CBC
6 hours ago
- CBC
How deep will the U.S. be pulled into the Israel-Iran war?
U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently denied his country's involvement in the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran. But Andrew Chang explains the role the U.S. has already played — and the extent to which that involvement may still increase. Images provided by Getty Images, The Canadian Press and Reuters.
CBC
6 hours ago
- CBC
Canadians desperate to hear from families in Iran as violence escalates and routes out are limited
Social Sharing Iranian-Canadians are trying desperately to get in touch with friends and family in Iran as missiles fall and routes out of the country are limited. Mina Morshed, who lives in Toronto, says her parents in Tehran are sick and unable to leave. In a brief phone conversation Friday, her mother told her the bombing had started and had to hang up. Morshed wasn't able to reach her family members on Wednesday. "I'm very upset and worried about them," she told CBC News Network. WATCH | Mina Morshed says she's worried for her family: Iranian Canadian says she's worried about family, hopes for peace 8 hours ago Duration 6:04 Iran's communications ministry says it has restricted internet access to defend against Israeli cyberattacks amid ongoing violence between the two countries, making contact even more difficult. Morshed says she tries not to pass her stress onto her kids, but she says they're also becoming worried and asking what will happen if their grandma and grandpa die. "I explained, 'Don't worry, they're strong enough. They'll try to protect themselves,' " she said. Hundreds killed in escalating strikes Israel launched the first strikes of an air campaign against Iran last week, kicking off an exchange of missile fire between the two countries. A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 585 people, including 239 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded. Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds. Global Affairs Canada says more than 4,000 Canadians were registered as being in Iran as of Tuesday evening, with more than 6,600 Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Because registration is voluntary, these numbers are likely an undercount. Both Iran and Israel have suspended outgoing flights. Thousands have fled Tehran by car, spending hours in gridlocked traffic amid warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump to immediately evacuate the city of 10 million. Many are stuck there — including those who are elderly and others who can't afford to leave. WATCH | Iranian-Canadians on the conflict with Israel: Iranian-Canadians reflect on conflict between Iran and Israel 7 hours ago Duration 8:06 Two Iranian-Canadians living in Metro Vancouver, Parisa Moshfegh and restaurateur and community leader Fred Soofi, spoke with The Early Edition's Stephen Quinn as the war between Iran and Israel escalates. They said they're worried about their loved ones as Iranian officials report heavy civilian casualties. Besat Zardosht, in London, Ont., said she's happy to be safe in Canada with her daughter, but worries about her friends, nieces and nephews in Iran. She says she's been urging her loved ones to relocate to a different city where it may be safer. "My heart just wants to explode hearing from them and being here and not being able to do much," Zardosht said. Sara Shariati told CBC Vancouver she's been struggling to get in touch with her dad, a dual Canadian-Iranian citizen, and worries she might not see him again. "It's a very scary time," she said. "I think a lot of Iranians in the diaspora, me included, feel helpless." Iranian Canadians can cross into Turkey or Armenia Global Affairs Canada says Canadians in Iran have three border crossing options to enter Turkey, and one option to enter Armenia. Dr. Panid Borhanjoo, who lives in Hamilton and was visiting family in Tehran, managed to find a driver to take him to the border where he crossed into Turkey. There, he was able to catch a flight from Istanbul to Toronto. But he told CBC Hamilton that he thought he might be killed in the process as bombs were falling. And of course, he's still worried about the family he left behind. "When my mom hugged me, she said, 'If this is the last time I'm seeing you, I love you.' That's not something I'll ever be able to forget," he said. Global Affairs Canada says it has not received any reports of Canadians injured or killed in the region, but said Monday that Canada had moved four non-critical personnel and 20 dependents out of Tel Aviv and Ramallah. WATCH | Challenges facing Canadians in Iran and Israel: Canadians face challenges fleeing Israel-Iran conflict 24 hours ago Duration 1:55 Thousands of Canadians have been stuck in Iran and Israel since the two countries started exchanging airstrikes, and officials warn it could be weeks before flights resume. The department says Canadians in Israel can cross ground borders, with three exits leading to Jordan and one exit to leading to Egypt. Global Affairs Canada is encouraging Canadians in the Middle East to register through the Registration of Canadians Abroad Service, if they have not already, to receive important updates. The Canadian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of Canada in Ramallah remain operational for Canadians in Israel or the West Bank, but obtaining consular services is more difficult in Iran, where Canada has not had an embassy since 2012. The government is advising Canadians to avoid all travel to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and to avoid non-essential travel to Lebanon and Jordan.
