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Trudeau Urges Canadians to Leave Lebanon, Citing ‘Real’ Risk of Escalation

A Middle East Airlines (MEA) plane departs from Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)
A Middle East Airlines (MEA) plane departs from Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)
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Trudeau Urges Canadians to Leave Lebanon, Citing ‘Real’ Risk of Escalation

A Middle East Airlines (MEA) plane departs from Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)
A Middle East Airlines (MEA) plane departs from Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)

There is a real risk of escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, and Canadians should leave Lebanon while possible because Ottawa may not be able to evacuate everyone if the situation worsens, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday.

"We see that the risk of escalation is real, the challenges in the region are significant," Trudeau told reporters in Ontario.

"We are making certain preparations to be able to support in the event that everything gets much, much worse, but the situation is so difficult that we may not be able to get all Canadians out."

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Earthquake Strikes Syria, Rattling Nerves amid Memories of Last Year's Deadly Temblor

People look amid rubble as the search for survivors continues following an earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
People look amid rubble as the search for survivors continues following an earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
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Earthquake Strikes Syria, Rattling Nerves amid Memories of Last Year's Deadly Temblor

People look amid rubble as the search for survivors continues following an earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
People look amid rubble as the search for survivors continues following an earthquake in Hatay, Türkiye, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

An earthquake shook central Syria late Monday, local authorities said, causing no major damages but rattling the nerves of residents who remembered last year’s devastating temblor that struck northern Syria and Türkiye, The AP reported.

Syria’s National Center for Earthquakes said a 5.5 magnitude quake struck 28 kilometers (17 miles) east of the city of Hama at 11:56 p.m. local time. The US Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 5.0 and said it had a depth of 10 kilometers.

There were no immediate reports of deaths. Local authorities in Hama and surrounding government-held areas reported no damages, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA said. In the country’s opposition-held northwest, the local civil defense agency known as the White Helmets also said there were no damages.

In Damascus and Beirut — the capital of neighboring Lebanon, where the earthquake was also felt — residents descended to the streets fearing a stronger quake that would collapse buildings. In Lebanon, nerves were already on edge due to fears of an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the militant group Hezbollah and Israeli forces that could pull the country into a full-on war.

On Feb. 6, 2023, a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Syria and Türkiye, killing more than 59,000 people and worsening the devastation in already war-torn Syria.

Hama Health Director Maher Younes told the Sham FM radio station that 25 people suffered “minor and moderate injuries” as they panicked and attempted to escape the temblor.