The federal government will help Canadians stuck in Iran, Israel and the West Bank leave the region on nearby commercial flights as the deadly conflict escalates.
Those Canadians will have to reach a neighbouring country first, however, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said in a statement Thursday.
Since the two countries began trading strikes nearly a week ago, airspace above Iran and Israel has been closed. Since then, the situation has only gotten worse, with U.S. President Donald Trump currently weighing whether to authorize U.S. military force against Iran.
The White House said Trump will make that decision within the next two weeks, citing the possibility of negotiations.
In addition to the assistance that is already available to Canadians who wish to leave Gaza, Anand stated that the government is “planning commercial options for Canadians in Israel, the West Bank, and Iran to leave the region via certain neighbouring countries.” The story goes on after the advertisement. “Given the airspace is not open, once Canadians have crossed the border into neighbouring countries, we have consular services available for them,” Anand said.
Click to play video: ‘Israel-Iran war: Iranians becoming more cut off as Israel tries to return to normal’
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War between Israel and Iran: Iran’s isolation is getting worse as Israel tries to get back to normal. Extra consular services have been deployed in Jordan, Turkey and Armenia, she added, in addition to Israel and the West Bank.
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By providing your email address, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the privacy policy and terms of Global News. “We are developing further options with our allies,” Anand said, urging Canadians to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive up-to-date information and guidance from officials.
Global Affairs Canada said Tuesday that more than 82,000 Canadians in the Middle East are voluntarily registered with the service, including more than 4,000 in Iran and more than 6,600 in Israel.
The numbers, which were up from just a day prior, do not reflect how many Canadians may be in the region.
The story goes on after the advertisement. Due to the ongoing conflict, Canada has advised Canadians not to travel to the majority of Middle Eastern nations. It relocated non-essential diplomatic staff and their families from Canada’s embassy in Tel Aviv and consular office in Ramallah on Monday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday did not say directly if he supported the possibility of direct U.S. military involvement against Iran when asked by reporters.
“The prospect in any sense of that word of Iran having a nuclear weapon is fundamentally destabilizing to peace in the Middle East and broader peace and stability in the world,” he said in Ottawa. “Secondly, we absolutely support and stand by Israel in its right to defend itself, to protect itself.
“We join others in seeking a solution to this crisis that prevents Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon or nuclear capability, ensures the safety and stability of all countries in the region, including Israel, and opens the door to a more widespread peace in the Middle East,” Carney cited the G7’s joint statement on Monday, which emphasized that a ceasefire in Gaza should accompany any resolution.
As Iran-Israel conflict rages, Ottawa vows flight help if citizens get out
