Global Affairs on Saturday urged Canadians to avoid all travel to Israel due to “the ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation.”
The agency’s previous travel advisory for Israel only urged against non-essential travel.
The advisory now reads: “Avoid all travel due to the ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation. The security situation can deteriorate further without warning.”
Fears of a wider regional conflict have grown in the wake of recent actions between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group based in neighbouring Lebanon.
A Hezbollah commander was recently killed by an Israel airstrike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Israel alleges that the killed commander was behind a rocket strike that killed 12 young people in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, but Hezbollah has denied the charge.
A series of attacks and assassinations in recent days are pushing simmering Middle East tensions even closer to a boiling point. CBC’s Ellen Mauro breaks down the key events in recent days and why they’re fuelling fears of a wider conflict.
Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire along the border since Oct. 7, when Hezbollah-allied Hamas and other Palestinian militants led an attack into southern Israel that killed 1,200 and saw some 250 others taken into Hamas-controlled Gaza, according to Israeli officials.
Israel’s subsequent siege of Gaza has killed more than 39,550 people, according to enclave’s health ministry.
Hezbollah has vowed keep launching rockets at Israel until the latter ceases operations in Gaza.
“If the armed conflict intensifies, it could impact your ability to depart by commercial means. It may result in travel disruptions, including airspace closures and flight cancellations and diversions,” Global Affairs said.
The agency has previously urged Canadians to avoid all travel to Lebanon for the same reasons.