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The world was struck with grief when an airplane carrying 176 civilians from Canada and Iran was hit by a missile fired by Iranian security forces after they mistook it for a cruise missile. Citing "human error", the Ukrainian plane was shot down, killing all aboard.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the victims killed in the tragic plane crash would be alive right now if the tensions between the United States and Iran had not escalated in the region.
The Ukrainian jetliner was carrying 176 people, including 57 Canadians when it was struck by a cruise missile mid-air, killing everyone on board.
After initially denying involvement and blaming it on "mechanical reasons", Iran admitted that they had shot down the aircraft amidst growing international accusations. This admission after days of dodging stirred an uproar as Iranians took to streets to outrage over the "mistake" that caused them innocent lives.
Also Read: Iranians Furious After Government Takes Responsibility For Downing Jet 752
“If there was no escalation recently in the region, those Canadians would be right now home with their families. This is something that happens when you have conflict and the war. Innocents bear the brunt of it,” Trudeau said in an interview with Global News Television.
“I’ve talked about the tremendous grief and loss that Canadians are feeling and the need for clear answers on how this happened and how we’re going to make sure it never happens again,” Trudeau said.
The Canadian Prime Minister also admitted that he would have "obviously" liked a warning before Donald Trump ordered the airstrike on the Baghdad international airport that resulted in the killing of Iraq's top commander Qasem Soleimani and important military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. As part of a NATO training mission, Canada also has troops in Iraq.
Some Canadians also blame Trump in part for the killings on the innocent. However, Trudeau was careful not to blame the US President in the interview.
Prime Minister Trudeau had called the downing of Flight 752 a Canadian tragedy because 138 of the passengers were headed for Canada.
“There is a demand for justice. And that is entirely, entirely to be expected and should be heeded very carefully by the Iranian government,” Trudeau said.
