Ottawa is recommending Canadians avoid travelling to large parts of the Middle East, as Iran continues to retaliate against a joint offensive by the United States and Israel.
The United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as several leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran responded by launching retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S.-related military installations in nearby Arab Gulf countries.
The unrest has led Global Affairs Canada to issue a travel warning to Canadians planning trips in the region.
Along with the recommendation to avoid travel to Iran, Global Affairs is cautioning against all travel to Bahrain, Iraq, Israel and Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen and to avoid non-essential travel to Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
“The situation throughout the Middle East remains unpredictable due to ongoing military activities in the region,” Global Affairs said in its online advisory. “Given the scale and pace of these exchanges, the conflict may continue for an indeterminate period.”
More than 97,000 Canadians and permanent residents were registered as being in the region as of March 2, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) told The Epoch Times on March 3.
Global Affairs said there are 2,921 Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Iran and 6,030 in Israel. The agency said it is not aware of any Canadians being injured or killed as a result of the ongoing conflict.
The largest number of Canadians—24,594—are in the United Arab Emirates, followed by Lebanon at 23,304, and Saudi Arabia at 11,098, GAC said.
There are also 1,518 in Bahrain, 7,268 in Egypt, 954 in Iraq, 4,477 in Jordan, 4,200 in Kuwait, 819 in Oman, 439 in Palestine, 8,374 in Qatar, 1,488 in Syria, and 227 in Yemen.
Ottawa said it cannot guarantee the safety of Canadians abroad, adding that travellers are responsible for assessing the security of their travel routes, and ensuring that they meet the entry requirements of their destination.
“Our ability to provide consular services to Canadians during an active conflict is likely to be limited,” GAC said. “Prepare contingency plans that don’t rely on the Government of Canada’s assistance for evacuations or assisted departures.”
Travel Issues
The conflict in Iran has resulted in hundreds of thousands of travellers being stranded, as its effects extend into neighbouring nations, effectively halting air travel across much of the Middle East.“If you are in either of these regions, please do not head to the airport,” the airline warns. “Your safety is our top priority.”
Canada’s largest flight hub, Toronto’s Pearson Airport, said some flights would be impacted by changes to international airspace.
The airport is advising all passengers to check their flight status directly with their airline before coming to the airport.
Officials at Dubai International Airport, the largest airport in the United Arab Emirates, said four people were injured following a drone strike linked to the ongoing regional escalation. At Zayed International Airport, authorities reported that one person was killed and seven others were injured after debris from an intercepted drone fell near airport facilities. Strikes were also reported at Kuwait International Airport.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled in the region, including those in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, and flight cancellations are expected to continue in the coming days.
United States and Israeli forces carried out a combined strike on Feb. 28 that targeted a gathering of dozens of leaders at an Iranian Defense Ministry compound and a second gathering at a compound hosting Iranian intelligence leadership.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government supports the U.S. action in Iran, but added that Canada will not get directly involved in the operation.
On the fourth day of the Middle East conflict, March 3, new strikes were launched against Iran as Israel deployed troops in southern Lebanon, while Iran persisted in its attacks on Israel and various targets in Gulf states.
