Joly imploring Canadians in Lebanon to get out, won't say who might cover evacuation costs
CTV
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is imploring Canadians that are in Lebanon to heed the government's now week-long warning to come home and won't say if Canada is prepared to airlift citizens out at the government's expense.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is imploring Canadians that are in Lebanon to heed the government's now week-long warning to come home and won't say if Canada is prepared to airlift citizens out at the government's expense.
"It is time," Joly said, sending a message to Canadians in Lebanon while speaking with reporters from Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Since Oct. 15, the Canadian government has been warning of the deteriorating security situation as fighting between Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.
Fearing a spillover of the Israel-Gaza war, the federal government issued an "avoid all travel" advisory for Lebanon and has called on the 16,481 Canadians registered in that country to get on a plane and get out, or at least ensure they have all their requisite travel documents at the ready.
On Friday, Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces officials indicated planning is underway for potential evacuation operations, seeing a rapid deployment team dispatched to the region and military officers stationed in Lebanon and Cyprus.
Asked Monday if the Canadian government is prepared to launch, and pay for flights to get thousands of citizens out, Joly wouldn't say.
"My message to Canadians in Lebanon is first: you need to come home. This is time to leave. And I've been saying that for many days," Joly said. "But my message is the same: there are still commercial options available. Canadians should get out."
