Ottawa warns Canadians in Lebanon there is no guaranteed evacuation

Global Affairs Canada is warning more than 20,000 Canadians in Lebanon that they can’t rely on government evacuation flights if war engulfs that country.

The department says 21,399 Canadians have officially registered as being in Lebanon, though it expects many more are present in the country.

Canada has urged people for months to leave Lebanon and not travel there, though diaspora groups say many have gone ahead with travel plans, including visits to family. Peer countries that had not yet ordered citizens to leave did so in recent weeks, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon intensify.

Canada has been planning since last October for a possible evacuation of its citizens, and sent military personnel to Lebanon and Cyprus in preparation. But Canada warns evacuations aren’t always possible.

On Wednesday, the government once again urged Canadians to leave Lebanon immediately.

“Some airlines have already temporarily suspended their service to Beirut. Additional travel disruptions are likely, including airspace closures and flight cancellations and diversions,” it said on X.

Some airlines have already temporarily suspended their service to <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/Beirut?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#Beirut

. Additional travel disruptions are likely, including airspace closures and flight cancellations and diversions. Leave <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lebanon?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#Lebanon now. https://t.co/ZmdBCyQwUC pic.twitter.com/RqtFwmoZ2F

— Travel.gc.ca (@TravelGoC) <a href=«https://twitter.com/TravelGoC/status/1818669259569934818?ref_src=» https:>July 31, 2024

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly also posted a warning on X. She said Canadian citizens and permanent residents who