2 Canadians killed in Lebanon as Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates

Two Canadians have been killed in Lebanon as the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah escalates.

Global Affairs Canada confirmed the deaths, with the agency telling Global News on Wednesday that it was “aware of the deaths of two Canadian citizens” and “officials stand ready to provide consular assistance.”

GAC did not share any further details, citing privacy concerns.

The department also said it has received one request for consular assistance related to injuries recently sustained during attacks.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have mounted after a deadly wave of bombings across Lebanon last week in which explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies killed dozens of people and wounded thousands, including many Hezbollah members.

The Lebanese government and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the remote attack. But Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it is activating reserve troops in response to the rising tensions with the Hezbollah militant group.

The announcement came hours after Hezbollah fired a missile toward Tel Aviv for the first time.

As the tensions ratchet up, Canadians are being urged to leave Lebanon immediately and not count on government-assisted evacuations, which are an “option of last resort,” GAC said.

“The Government of Canada is reiterating that Canadians should leave now, while the airport is still accessible and commercial airline options remain available,” GAC said.

The department told Global News that over the weekend it saw an increase in the number of enquiries at its Emergency Watch and Response centre, with most of the requests related to departure options, travel documents and visas.

“Canada is not