OTTAWA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that he would not "categorically rule out" the possibility of Canada's military participation in the ongoing Middle East conflict, local media reported.

Carney made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, during his visit to Australia.

When asked if he could definitively guarantee that Canada would not get involved militarily, Carney said it cannot be ruled out, adding that "we will stand by our allies when it makes sense" and "we will always defend Canadians."

In a statement released earlier, Carney expressed regret over the "failure of the international order" and "implored all parties, including the United States and Israel, to respect the rules of international engagement." ■