As hostilities intensify across the Middle East, the federal government is urging Canadians to avoid travel to multiple countries in the region, citing growing instability and security risks. According to Global Affairs Canada, more than 85,000 Canadians and permanent residents are currently registered as being in affected areas, though officials caution the figure is an estimate because registration is voluntary and some individuals may have already departed.
The conflict escalated after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend, targeting senior leadership. Officials later confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader had been killed. Since then, retaliatory actions by Iran and Iran backed groups have widened the scope of the conflict, raising concerns about regional spillover and civilian safety.
Global Affairs Canada reports that approximately 2,932 Canadians and permanent residents are in Iran and 6,006 are in Israel. Additional Canadians are registered across neighbouring states, including 23,165 in Lebanon and 23,064 in the United Arab Emirates. Thousands more are listed in Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Syria, Palestine, and Yemen. The federal government says it is not aware of any Canadians injured or killed as a result of the current hostilities.
In an official statement, Ottawa condemned recent strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, describing them as a dangerous escalation that threatens regional stability and civilian lives. The government emphasized that attacks endangering civilians must stop immediately. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has been in contact with counterparts in several countries including Israel, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United Kingdom to coordinate diplomatic and security responses.
Canada has asked non essential diplomatic staff in Tel Aviv to temporarily relocate, while confirming that Canadian mission personnel across the region are safe and accounted for. The government is also deploying members of the Standing Rapid Deployment Team to assist in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Jordan, Turkmenistan, and Türkiye.
Officials are strongly advising Canadians in the region to register with Global Affairs Canada to receive travel updates and security information. Canadians are urged to avoid all travel to Israel, Iran, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Non essential travel is discouraged for Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Global Affairs Canada has also warned that consular services during active conflict may be limited and that Canadians should prepare independent contingency plans in case evacuation or assistance becomes constrained.
