Escalating Violence in Lebanon Leads to Increased Demand for Flights to Canada
Global Affairs Canada is booking blocks of seats on some commercial flights leaving Lebanon to assist Canadians seeking to flee as Israeli strikes escalate today.
Israel has launched its most powerful strikes on Beirut since the latest escalation began, destroying six buildings in a suburb as the Israeli Defense Force struck the headquarters of Hezbollah.
The federal government strongly urges Canadians to leave Lebanon immediately.
Defence Minister Bill Blair emphasized Thursday that there were still commercial flights available out of Lebanon, but by Friday those options were quickly disappearing.
A federal government official informed The Canadian Press that Global Affairs was reserving seats on flights to secure safe passage for Canadians. These seats secured by Canada could be to any destination out of Lebanon.
The official clarified that this is not an evacuation, even though Canada has been working for months on a plan to launch mass evacuations of Canadians if necessary.
Related Stories
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stated earlier this week that it is estimated about 45,000 Canadians were in Lebanon, even though only about half that number have officially registered with the embassy in Beirut.
