OTTAWA — The Canadian military says it is preparing for the possibility of getting Canadian nationals out of Lebanon as Global Affairs Canada urges them to leave the country on a commercial flight now while there are still some left.
Since Israel’s latest war with Hamas began on October 7, the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah and its Palestinian allies have launched daily rocket attacks on northern Israel. Israel, for its part, is bombing the border areas of southern Lebanon.
Maj. Gen. Darcy Molstad, deputy commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, said Friday that Canadian military officers are already in Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus and Greece to prepare for a possible evacuation of civilians should the need arise.
For her part, the deputy minister in charge of consular affairs at Global Affairs Canada says that around 14,500 Canadians are currently registered in Lebanon.
Julie Sunday is also urging these Canadians to take commercial flights from Beirut now, while they are still possible.
She says she understands these are “really difficult decisions for them,” but she believes the best advice the government can give is that it’s time for Canadians in Lebanon leave.
Global Affairs Canada specifies on its website: “If the armed conflict intensifies, commercial opportunities to exit the country could be affected.”
“The Government of Canada’s ability to provide consular services during an active conflict, including the evacuation of citizens, may be limited,” she warns.
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