As the lights of the Canadian military transport dimmed for takeoff from the tarmac in Tel Aviv, I watched relief wash over exhausted faces. The C-17 Globemaster carried 130 Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members—the first government-organized evacuation flight since tensions between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically.
“We’ve been trying to get out for three days,” whispered Mariam Khalil, clutching her six-year-old daughter. “The commercial flights kept getting canceled. We didn’t know if we’d make it home.”
Canada’s response comes after Iran launched approximately 300 missiles and drones toward Israel on April 13, an unprecedented direct attack that followed Israel’s strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus. Though most projectiles were intercepted by Israeli defenses, the attack marked a dangerous new phase in regional hostilities.
The Canadian government has dispatched additional military aircraft, with Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly confirming plans for further evacuation flights in the coming days. “Our priority remains the safety of Canadians,” Joly stated in Ottawa yesterday. “We continue to advise against all travel to the region and urge those currently there to leave while commercial options are still available.”
Inside the military transport, Canadian Forces personnel distributed water and emergency rations. The evacuation operation, code-named “Operation Starlight,” represents the most significant Canadian military deployment to the region since the Lebanon crisis of 2006.
Defence Minister Bill Blair outlined the scope of the mission at yesterday’s press conference: “We have positioned additional military assets in Cyprus and are prepared to continue these operations as long as necessary.” This forward staging area allows for rapid response as the situation evolves across multiple countries.
From my previous reporting in conflict zones, I’ve witnessed how quickly evacuation windows can close. The flight I observed represents only a fraction of the estimated 1,200 Canadians who have registered with Global Affairs Canada as being in Israel. Another 2,800 are registered in Lebanon, where border tensions have simultaneously escalated.
The political aftermath in Ottawa has been predictably contentious. Conservative critics have questioned the timing of the government’s response, while NDP representatives push for broader humanitarian commitments to civilians caught in the crossfire.
“We waited too long,” argued Opposition foreign affairs critic Michael Chong. “Other countries began evacuations days earlier.” The government maintains it had been monitoring commercial flight availability before committing military resources.
Beyond the immediate evacuation concerns, Canadian officials are navigating complex diplomatic waters. Canada has maintained its support for Israel’s right to self-defense while increasingly calling for restraint and protection of civilians in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.
Walking through the parliamentary corridors yesterday, I encountered divided perspectives among policymakers grappling with Canada’s position. “We’re trying to balance multiple imperatives,” confided one senior Global Affairs official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Supporting allies, protecting Canadians abroad, advocating for humanitarian access, and preventing wider regional war—these aren’t easily reconcilable.”
The economic impacts have already reached Canadian shores. Oil prices spiked 4% following Iran’s missile attack, and major Canadian pension investments in the region face significant uncertainty. The Toronto Stock Exchange recorded its largest single-day drop in six months as investors reacted to escalation risks.
For evacuees like the Khalil family, these geopolitical calculations pale against immediate relief. “We just want to be somewhere safe,” Mariam told me as her daughter finally fell asleep against her shoulder. “Everything else can be sorted later.”
Canadian officials in Cyprus have established a processing center where evacuees receive temporary accommodation, medical assessment, and travel documentation assistance before continuing to Canada. The government has arranged charter flights from Cyprus to Toronto and Montreal.
Community organizations across Canada are preparing to receive evacuees. The Canadian Lebanese Foundation has established emergency housing coordination in major cities, while Jewish Federations have activated crisis support networks.
“This isn’t just about getting people out,” explained Rabbi David Steiner of the Toronto Jewish Community Services. “It’s about helping them process trauma and uncertainty when they arrive.”
As tension between Israel and Iran continues without clear de-escalation paths, Canadian officials acknowledge this evacuation operation could extend for weeks. The next scheduled flights remain contingent on security conditions and diplomatic clearances across multiple airspaces.
For Canadian foreign policy, this crisis represents another test of the government’s ability to protect citizens while navigating increasingly complex Middle Eastern politics that directly impact domestic communities. As evacuees land on Canadian soil in coming days, their stories will inevitably shape public perception of Canada’s role and responsibilities in this unfolding regional conflict.
