Hundreds of Canadians have fled Middle East but thousands more remain: officials

Darren Major · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 23, 2025 3:40 PM EDT | Last Updated: 34 minutes ago

Hundreds of Canadians and imperishable residents person fled the Middle East arsenic the warfare betwixt Israel and Iran continues to escalate — but officials estimation determination are thousands inactive successful the region.

Roughly 6,000 Canadians and imperishable residents are successful Israel and the West Bank, officials with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) told journalists during a inheritance briefing connected Monday. Another 5,500 are estimated to beryllium successful Iran.

The officials didn't springiness a circumstantial number, but said "hundreds" person near the portion and that the authorities plans to assistance those seeking to leave. They said the concern remains highly volatile and it is hard to get a grasp of the nonstop fig of Canadians who person near each portion of the region. They said immoderate person near of their ain volition without needfully notifying the national government.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced past Thursday that the national authorities was organizing commercialized flights retired of neighbouring countries, arsenic the airspace successful some Iran and Israel has been closed.

More than 60 Canadians near Israel and the West Bank via government-arranged buses and were transported to Amman, Jordan, officials said. Roughly 100 much are expected to permission Tuesday with a formation booked from Aqaba, Jordan, to Athens. Officials said determination are apt much Canadians who person near by different means.

There is constricted assistance that the authorities tin supply to those successful Iran, arsenic Canada doesn't person a diplomatic beingness successful the country. 

But GAC officials said determination is simply a diplomatic beingness astatine borderline crossings successful Turkey and Armenia to assistance with proscription and accommodation options for Canadians and imperishable residents leaving Iran.

There has besides been a Canadian diplomatic presumption acceptable up astatine the Iranian borderline with Azerbaijan. Even though the Astara crossing constituent has been closed for 4 years, GAC officials said Canadian diplomats person been capable to assistance with visa applications astatine that crossing, and that Azerbaijani officials person allowed astir 100 Canadians to cross.