Canada Launches First Evacuation Flight From Middle East Amid Iran-Israel Conflict

Ottawa begins pulling citizens from region, eyes more extractions via Jordan as war escalates

A Canadian government-chartered plane quietly lifted off from Jordan late Tuesday, marking the first official evacuation flight for Canadian citizens fleeing the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran. It carried 95 passengers bound for Athens—far below the 265 seats available—but the signal was clear: Ottawa is finally in motion.

Global Affairs Canada confirmed the flight as part of an expanding evacuation operation focused on getting Canadians out of high-risk areas via Jordan. Additional ground transports from Israel and the West Bank are expected to operate Wednesday, aimed at moving people to safety across the border before more chartered planes take off.

A Measured Response, But Behind the Curve

Canada’s evacuation effort has lagged behind that of allies like France, the UK, and Germany, whose chartered flights began over the weekend. Many Canadians with family trapped in the region have voiced frustration that it took days before real action began.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand addressed reporters Tuesday from The Hague, where she was meeting with Dutch officials. “We are helping allied nations evacuate their nationals as well,” she said, emphasizing that Canada is “scaling up” efforts quickly. But she admitted the bulk of requests are still coming from Canadian citizens.

Critics, however, remain unconvinced.

For many, the main issue is scale—and speed. One Middle East-based Canadian told The Globe and Mail that after three days of trying to reach consular staff, they received a generic email pointing them to commercial airline websites that no longer had available flights. “They say help is coming. But no one’s here,” the person said.

More Buses, More Bottlenecks

Ottawa is now mobilizing more buses to move citizens from inside Israel and the West Bank to Jordan. It’s not an easy task. With the war now in its twelfth day and airstrikes continuing, roads remain risky, and exit points like the Allenby Bridge have seen sporadic closures.

A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said the plan is to operate the ground transports “as needed,” depending on how many Canadians request assistance and how fast security conditions change. The agency did not give specifics on how many buses will run or what times they would operate.

In a short statement, the department said it had “boosted consular staff” in Amman and Athens and is coordinating with local officials to facilitate movement. The hope is to organize more evacuation flights over the coming days.

One sentence. Short and heavy: Time is not on their side.

Where Are Canadians Coming From?

While most Canadians boarding the chartered flight in Amman were arriving from Israel, a growing number are coming from the West Bank and even southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah activity has surged in recent days. There are also a few from Iran itself—though those cases remain complicated by a lack of formal diplomatic ties.

• Canadians in Iran face major barriers since Canada severed diplomatic relations in 2012.

• Anyone needing help from Tehran is directed to the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

• Most calls from inside Iran, consular staff say, have come from dual nationals or families trying to reach stranded relatives.

One official, speaking off the record, said some citizens in Iran are trying to exit by land via Armenia or Pakistan, a route “full of hurdles.”

Here’s a quick glance at current Canadian presence in high-risk countries, according to rough diplomatic estimates:

Why the Empty Seats?

Perhaps the most perplexing part of Tuesday’s flight was that more than half the seats remained empty. Only 95 passengers boarded the 265-seat aircraft to Athens.

Officials blamed the fluid nature of the conflict—some families changed their minds last minute, others opted to wait for direct flights home. Some Canadians may be trying to secure private alternatives, fearing they’ll be stranded in Athens with no onward ticket.

Minister Anand noted that consular staff in Athens were helping evacuees book commercial tickets to Canada, but demand and cost are still an issue. Some travelers, particularly those with children or elderly relatives, said they are afraid to move without a guaranteed path all the way home.

Another Canadian in Jerusalem described being told to get to Jordan “on their own” before the government could offer help. “That’s not possible for everyone,” they said, citing closed roads and curfews.

Political Heat Back Home

Back in Ottawa, pressure is mounting. MPs from both opposition and government benches are demanding clearer information and faster coordination. The New Democratic Party’s foreign affairs critic, Heather McPherson, said Canada’s initial response was “tepid at best,” calling for a dedicated task force.

Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the Trudeau government of being “asleep at the switch,” pointing to how quickly other G7 nations mobilized airlift support.

Even Liberal MPs have started raising eyebrows. One senior member, who requested anonymity, said the PMO “needs to get a grip on this before it turns into a political disaster.”

Looking Ahead

No official timeline has been released on how long these evacuation flights will run, nor how many more are expected. The government said it is “monitoring the situation hourly” and remains in close contact with Jordanian and Israeli officials.

But the truth is, there’s no playbook for this. The region is teetering. Airspace closures come and go. And people on the ground are just trying to stay alive.

One Canadian mother, now in Amman, summed it up plainly: “I don’t care if it’s Athens or Albania—just get us out.”