War in Iran: Canadians leave the Middle East by plane, bus and foot – The National
As the war waged by the US and Israel continues in Iran, hundreds of Canadians continue to leave the region by plane, bus, and even on foot.
New numbers from Global Affairs Canada show that 109,889 Canadians are enrolled in the government’s voluntary registration program.
Of that number, 9,185 applied for help – 5,267 asked for help out of the county. The claims come as Iran’s military targets expanded over the weekend to civilian infrastructure.
The organization noted that as of Sunday, it was not aware of any Canadians being injured or killed during the conflict.
Bahrain accused Iran on Sunday of attacking one of the desalination plants important for drinking water in the Gulf states.
On the same day, Saudi Arabia reported its first death, saying that an army gun had landed in a residential area, killing two Indian and Bangladeshi nationals and wounding 12 other Bangladeshis.
Foreign nationals and workers accounted for most of the war’s deaths in the Gulf countries.
The war, which began with an Israeli and US airstrike on February 28 that killed Iran’s top leader, has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel, according to officials. Six US and two Israeli soldiers were also killed.
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The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has withdrawn from the words he made the previous day where he apologized for the attack on the land of the Gulf neighbors. Meanwhile, Iran’s hard-liners quickly contradicted him, saying the country’s war strategy would not change.
He appeared to echo that decision on Sunday, saying that the pressure placed on Iran, their response will be stronger.
“Our Iran, our country, will not bow down easily in the face of exploitation, oppression or violence – and never has,” Pezeshkian said. He urged neighboring countries not to get involved in the attack, despite US strikes coming from bases and boats in the region.
Canadians traveling by plane, bus and foot: Global Affairs Canada
As the war continued, Canadians in various countries appealed for help to varying degrees.
Of the 9,777 Canadians registered in Qatar, 1,077 – about 11 per cent – requested help from the federal government.
Despite having the second largest number of Canadians registered at 24,101, only 389 – or 1.65 percent – requested assistance to leave Lebanon.
The highest number of Canadians registered in the United Arab Emirates region, with 30,632. 2,668, or 8.71 percent, requested travel assistance.
The federal government said Sunday it continues to work to support the movement of Canadians to several countries in the Middle East, including at pedestrian crossings, where 182 people have crossed so far. The majority, 150 people, left Israel for Egypt, while 32 left Iran for Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan.
“Ambassadors have been deployed to countries bordering Iran, including being stationed along several Iranian borders to meet with any Canadians who cross,” Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.
Ground and air transport have also been used, with three transports taking place on the ground this weekend.
Four buses from Qatar to Saudi Arabia left on Saturday, and Global Affairs Canada reported 54 Canadians. Three more buses are scheduled for Sunday, carrying 47 Canadians.
The agency also noted that 93 Canadians were on a chartered flight from Dubai to Istanbul on Saturday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced on Friday that Canada is reserving hundreds of seats for Canadians on commercial flights from the Gulf region, adding that if Canadians do not take them, the government will give them to Europeans and others.
According to Global Affairs Canada, 154 Canadians were on four flights between Friday and Sunday. It noted, however, that 72 passengers on two flights from Beirut to Istanbul on Friday and Saturday were sold tickets rather than confirmed passengers, confirmed numbers are expected in the coming days.
A flight from Dubai to Toronto on Saturday confirmed 51 Canadians, and a flight from Beirut to Istanbul on Sunday carried 31 Canadians.
– wfiles from the Associated Press and Global News’ Prisha Dev and Jillian Piper
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
