As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, more than a thousand Canadians have left Lebanon over the past nine days via commercial flights, with more seats becoming available this week.
Global Affairs Canada said in an update Monday evening that since Sept. 29, a total of 1,162 people, including Canadians, permanent residents and their immediate family members, have left Lebanon.
The federal government began coordinating trade-assisted departures for Canadians looking to exit Lebanon at the end of last month amid a growing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group.
Global Affairs reserves groups of seats on commercial flights. On Monday, one flight carried 104 Canadians.
Additional flights with approximately 600 seats are scheduled to depart from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The ongoing crisis has made communications extremely difficult throughout Lebanon,” GAC said.
“Despite these challenges, Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Oversight and Response Center in Ottawa continues to operate 24/7 to communicate with Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families through all available channels.”
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah rose after a deadly wave of bombings across Lebanon last month killed dozens of people and wounded thousands, including many Hezbollah members.
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The Lebanese government and Hezbollah blamed Israel for the remote attack. But Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its responsibility.
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have given way to a rapidly expanding ground incursion against Hezbollah militants who have continued to fire rockets into Israel since the Gaza conflict began on October 7, 2023.
As the violence escalates, GAC said more than 5,500 Canadians, permanent residents and their immediate family members in Lebanon have expressed interest in leaving the country.
Of these, 4,687 individuals have so far been deemed eligible, documented, and offered exit options, the GAC said.
“All interested eligible travelers to whom we sent specific offers have departed or will do so in the coming days.”
As of Monday, 25,300 Canadians were registered in Lebanon.
Canada’s ambassador to Lebanon, Stephanie McCollum, said that “the situation remains volatile” and that violence in the country had escalated in the past week.
“This is a very violent and volatile situation and we don’t want Canadians to get caught up in it,” McCollum said in an interview with Mercedes Stevenson. Western bloc Which was broadcast on Sunday.
If necessary, the Canadian Armed Forces are also preparing for military-assisted evacuations, but McCollum said this is an “option of last resort.”
“What we are saying to Canadians is that you should not rely on a plan of last resort. You should leave now while trade options are available before things get worse.
—With files from Sean Boynton of Global News and the Associated Press
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