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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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Leaders of France, Germany and Britain Endorse Push for Gaza Ceasefire

The sun sets over the Gaza Strip, as seen from an area close to Kibbutz Sa'ad, near the border with the Gaza Strip on August 12, 2024. (Photo by Oren ZIV / AFP)
The sun sets over the Gaza Strip, as seen from an area close to Kibbutz Sa'ad, near the border with the Gaza Strip on August 12, 2024. (Photo by Oren ZIV / AFP)
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Leaders of France, Germany and Britain Endorse Push for Gaza Ceasefire

The sun sets over the Gaza Strip, as seen from an area close to Kibbutz Sa'ad, near the border with the Gaza Strip on August 12, 2024. (Photo by Oren ZIV / AFP)
The sun sets over the Gaza Strip, as seen from an area close to Kibbutz Sa'ad, near the border with the Gaza Strip on August 12, 2024. (Photo by Oren ZIV / AFP)

The leaders of France, Germany and Britain in a joint statement have endorsed the latest push by mediators United States, Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the 10-month Israel-Hamas war.

They also called for the return of scores of hostages held by Hamas and the “unfettered” delivery of humanitarian aid.

Mediators have spent months trying to get the sides to agree to a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages captured in its Oct. 7 attack in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and Israel would withdraw from Gaza. Talks have been expected to resume Thursday.
The statement was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

It called on Iran and its allies to refrain from any retaliatory attacks that would further escalate regional tensions after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.

Starmer on Monday called on Iran not to attack Israel during a 30-minute phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“The Prime Minister said that he was deeply concerned by the situation in the region and called on all parties to de-escalate and avoid further regional confrontation,” his office said in a statement. “He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone’s interests.”
Starmer also emphasized his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, adding that the parties should focus on diplomatic negotiations to achieve these goals.