Canada Prepares Contingency Evacuation Plans for Citizens in Lebanon

Canada’s top military commander, Gen. Wayne Eyre, has revealed that contingency evacuation plans have been prepared to extract around 20,000 Canadians from Lebanon if full-scale fighting erupts between Israel and Hezbollah. However, these plans heavily rely on support from allied nations.

In an exit interview with CBC News, Gen. Eyre, who will retire next month, emphasized the necessity of a coalition effort for the evacuation.

“We can’t do it alone,” Eyre stated, highlighting the close coordination with allied forces. He noted that while Global Affairs Canada leads the governmental response, military leaders from allied countries are actively discussing available resources and safe evacuation methods.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has urged Canadians to leave Lebanon swiftly. Reports suggest that Canada may consider evacuating up to 45,000 people, following a conversation between Joly and her Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz. However, Eyre clarified that the figure based on historical data from the 2006 evacuation is just over 20,000.

The 2006 evacuation saw nearly 15,000 people, mostly Canadians, safely extracted from Lebanon after conflict broke out between Israel and Hezbollah. Eyre expressed significant concern over the potential for war this summer between Israel and Hezbollah, especially after recent rocket fire from Hezbollah into Israel following the Hamas attack on October 7.

Currently, a Canadian military team is in Lebanon, coordinating with the embassy in Beirut for possible evacuation scenarios. Another team will soon be in Cyprus to refresh the evacuation plans, involving extensive preparations and aircraft maintenance. The primary strategy involves a maritime evacuation, similar to the 2006 operation, with evacuees transported from Lebanon to Cyprus and then flown home.

In a proactive measure last fall, Global Affairs Canada had rented a high-capacity ferry for potential evacuations. The federal government spent $44,000 weekly over five weeks to have this “high-speed” ship on standby. Hezbollah has warned Cyprus of potential attacks if it assists Israel, but Canadian plans remain focused on using maritime routes to ensure the safety of its citizens.

With extensive preparations and allied coordination, Canada aims to ensure a swift and safe evacuation if the situation in Lebanon deteriorates further.