The Canadian government has secured a “limited number of seats” on commercial flights from Lebanon for its citizens and permanent residents, Global Affairs Canada said Wednesday, as the conflict in Iran escalates.
As of Tuesday morning, 103,800 Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the Gulf region had registered with Global Affairs Canada. Since registration with GAC is voluntary, the actual number is likely to be higher.
Although air travel in the region has been disrupted following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Iran’s subsequent retaliation, GAC said some commercial flight options are available from Lebanon.
“The Government of Canada has secured a limited number of seats on commercial flights from Beirut. In addition, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is operating buses between Eilat and Taba, Egypt, to the Menachim Bijin border crossing,” GAC said.
Wednesday’s update added that passengers are responsible for paying their own travel expenses and making their own arrangements for accommodation, meals and any onward travel.
Get daily national news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
Global Affairs Canada said it is not currently offering assisted departures to Canadians.
“We are working on a number of options to support the potential departure of Canadians from various countries in the Middle East, both by land and air, as conditions permit and it is safe to do so,” the GAC said.
Lebanon currently has the second highest number of Canadians (23,561) after the United Arab Emirates (28,107). Iran currently has 2,958 Canadians registered with the GAC.
Canada has asked Oman for access to its airspace “if necessary” to evacuate or provide assistance to some of the 100,000 Canadians in the region, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Tuesday.
Anand said the government is working to “make sure that Canadians have opportunities to have support in those countries.”
This includes Oman, he said, which on Wednesday morning, “still has viable airspace.”
“If Canadian citizens need to evacuate, I have requested to use that airspace,” he said.
If you are a Canadian in Iran right now, we want to hear from you. Email us at shareyourstory@globalnews.ca or use the contact form below.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
(tags to translate)Iran(T)Lebanon(T)Canada(T)World
