Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called on Canadians in Lebanon to leave the country amid the escalating tensions on the southern border.

Trudeau emphasized the critical need for Canadians in Lebanon to make immediate travel arrangements while commercial flights are still operational, noting that the volatile nature of the conflict means that assisted evacuations may not be feasible if the situation escalates further.

This announcement followed an emergency meeting of the Incident Response Group, where Trudeau and senior officials discussed the heightened risks along Lebanon's southern border between Israel and Hezbollah. 

Monitoring the situation closely, the Prime Minister and key ministers reviewed recent developments and discussed Canada’s preparedness for various potential scenarios. They underscored the importance of de-escalation efforts and reiterated the urgency of the situation.

Canadians were reminded to ensure their travel documents, as well as those of their family members, are current and accessible. The government stressed that the window for safe departure might close quickly if hostilities intensify. The ability to assist in evacuations could be severely limited in a more critical scenario, making immediate action imperative.