Canada must end the defensive arms embargo, list the IRGC
Canada must end the defensive arms embargo, list the IRGC
Canadians watched in horror as hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles were fired, directly from Iran, at Israeli cities and towns. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the attack that launched at least 300 drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, while Iranian-backed terror groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis joined in, launching rockets into Israel from their bases in Lebanon and Yemen.
This was a shocking escalation by Iran – a direct attack on civilian populations using suicide drones and ballistic missiles launched directly by Iran – targeting locations across Israel from the beaches of Tel Aviv to the holy sites of Jerusalem.
We don’t know when and if Iran will strike again, but Israel must be ready to defend itself from another attack.
Last month, the Liberal government voted in favour of an NDP motion to stop defensive arms sales to Israel – including components that go into Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile defense system.
Canada turned its back on defensive support for a democratic ally – an ally that is now under attack by a country that has called for the destruction of Israel, initiated strikes on Jews, actively supports terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, interfered in Canada’s democracy, harasses Iranian-Canadians, and in 2020, shot down a plane full of Canadian citizens.
This is the track record of Iran and the IRGC.
Canada must reverse its ill-considered defensive arms embargo on Israel to help ensure that our ally is able to keep its civilians safe in the face of Iranian suicide drones and ballistic missiles, and it is past time to list the IRGC – finally – as a terrorist organization.
Tell Minister Joly that Iranian aggression can’t be given a free pass. She must reverse Canada’s defensive arms embargo on Israel and ban the IRGC now.
