Canada steps up evacuation efforts for citizens in Lebanon amid intense Israeli attacks

HAMILTON, Canada

Canada ramped up efforts to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon on Monday as the security situation in the country deteriorates.

"The security situation in Lebanon is becoming increasingly dangerous and volatile. The airport remains open and commercial flights are still available," Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly wrote on X.

To expedite the evacuation process, Joly announced that Canada is "now augmenting commercial capacity and have secured an additional 800 seats over the course of the next 3 days for Canadians, permanent residents and their immediate family."

Emphasizing that the next flight is scheduled to depart Tuesday, Joly noted the urgency for Canadians to take advantage of these opportunities while they remain available.

"If you are a Canadian citizen in Lebanon, you must leave now. If you are offered a seat, take it now," she warned.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 41,600 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7.

​​​​​​​Israel recently escalated its offensive on Lebanon, killing hundreds, forcing thousands to flee their homes, and killing Hezbollah commanders and its leader Hassan Nasrallah in airstrikes on Friday. The intense bombardment of sites continued Saturday.