Canadian colonel’s medal raises questions about Canada’s role in U.S. war with Iran

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“They don’t post as much information; they’re not as communicative about it,” said Perry, a defence analyst.

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“There are probably also some specific sensitivities to things in the Middle East given the dynamic there and the relationship with the Trump administration,” he said.

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Perry pointed out that National Defence didn’t want to talk about whether or not Canadians were posted in Kuwait after an Iranian missile slammed into a Canadian airbase nicknamed Camp Canada in Kuwait on March 1, 2026, even though the department’s own website flagged the country as a spot where Canadians were conducting operations.

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“From my vantage point, the lack of transparency is generally counterproductive,” he said. “But in some cases around the Middle East it’s become just silly is the best way of putting it.”

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The Canadian government has an obligation to let Canadians know what their military is doing, Perry said. “If we’ve got people over there that are doing things worthy of receiving fairly significant citations and awards, then we should be able to explain to people what it was that got them the awards and talk about it.”

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Turenne’s actions to evacuate thousands of military personnel from Qatar “were indeed a big deal,” retired major-gen. Scott Clancy said Monday.

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As initial strikes on Al Udeid took place last summer, U.S. Central Command decided to move its Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) “back to the U.S. because it posed not only a significant threat to the hundreds of staff and support working there being in the region within striking distance of Iran,” Clancy said, noting that their presence in Qatar would also draw fire to an allies’ territory.

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As the CAOC director, Turenne’s job last summer would have been to coordinate the move to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, “as well as sustain the mission in theatre,” said Clancy, who was director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs until 2021.

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“This is a highly complex operation involving well over a thousand folks, as well as all of the equipment and logistics to move them, all while splitting forces to sustain the operation while moving.”

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Removing “that target availability saved a significant loss of life as it would have represented the most lucrative and highest payoff target for Iran and they would have used every resource — ballistic missiles, drones, cruise missiles, and terrorist attacks — to strike it,” Clancy said.

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Clancy has met and worked with Turenne in the past.

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“I have found him to be an officer of the highest calibre and competence,” said the retired major general. “Not only have I been impressed with his competence as an expert in airpower application, but he is a leader of great empathy and professionalism.”

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What the medal for Turenne says about Canada’s role in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran “is complex,” Clancy said.

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“The Canadian government, and by extension the Canadian Forces conducted no planning, execution nor subsidiary operations to support the U.S. or Israel in the conflict,” he said.

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Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising from a reported Iranian strike in the industrial district of Doha, Qatar, on March 1, 2026. Photo by Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

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“However, we have officers on exchange throughout the world, including extensively with the U.S., which remains our closest and most important military ally,” Clancy said.

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“Although the Canadian population has distanced themselves from the U.S.,” he said, the relationship between the two militaries “has done nothing except flourish.”

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Clancy’s keen on developing Canada’s military capability and meeting our defence commitments.

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“For decades I have been staunchly advocating for exactly these things in lock step with our American allies,” he said. “As well, in order to effectively lead, to be the professionals that we are demanded to be by the Canadian population, you need to have the experience of the best, and for Air Forces that is the (United States Air Force), and by extension the air forces that are being employed in combat worldwide.”