Canada Working on Plans for Possible Military Intervention in Syria

Local Editor

Canadian defense and diplomatic officials have been working on plans for a possible Canadian military intervention in Syria, according to internal documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen newspaper on Monday.

Internal documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen showed that National Defense has drawn up at least five scenarios in which it could become involved in Syria's crisis, as well as potential Canadian Forces missions for each situation.
The documents have been censored to remove specifics, but allude to "the rapidly deteriorating conditions in Syria, its impact on neighboring countries and ... the importance of Middle East stability."

The scenarios also include several assumptions such as the Syrian government remaining "defiant," as well as "most likely" and "worst case" outcomes, such as extremist groups getting hold of advanced or chemical weapons, or the conflict spilling beyond Syria's borders.
At least one possible Canadian military intervention "assumes that a legitimate armed opposition group has been recognized" by Canada, although details about the rest of this scenario have been blacked out.

Furthermore, National Defense spokesman Daniel Blouin described such planning as "routine to significant international events."
In documents obtained by the Citizen, Foreign Affairs officials noted that the listed terrorist group, the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" [ISIL]" "employs a combination of military exploits and delivery of social services to build a support base and position itself for power after the transition."

"A post-Assad Syria risks opening yet another phase in the conflict if those who vanquish Assad retain power through the force of arms, by sowing ethnic or sectarian division or through allegiance to extremist religious beliefs," officials added.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team