Canada seeks to evacuate more than 2,000 citizens from Middle East
Canada said it is working to bring home more than 2,000 of its citizens who remain in the Middle East amid rising regional tensions and travel disruptions.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand said late Wednesday the government had received requests for assistance from Canadians stranded across several countries in the region.
According to the minister, about half of the requests came from the United Arab Emirates, while others were reported from Qatar, Lebanon, Israel and Iran.
Anand urged Canadian citizens to remain calm and follow official instructions, saying the government was working intensively to provide safe options for leaving the region.
Canada has also issued updated travel warnings, advising citizens to avoid travel to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Palestinian territories, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The move comes after recent military strikes by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran, which have sharply escalated tensions across the Middle East.
Airlines across the region have suspended or rerouted flights due to security concerns, leaving thousands of foreign nationals stranded or unable to travel safely.
Officials say evacuation planning is ongoing, warning that the rapidly changing security situation could further disrupt transportation and complicate efforts to assist Canadians in the region.
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