What risk level is Lebanon? Canadians told to leave now [Video]

The Canadian government is advising Canadians in Lebanon to leave now while flights are available amid escalating violence between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Asked about the escalating risk level and an updated travel advisory, Global Affairs Canada said it isn’t currently offering Canadians in Lebanon help to leave the country.

“Government assisted evacuations from a foreign country are an option of last resort, when all means of personal and commercial transportation have been exhausted, and the safety and security of its citizens is compromised,” Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Kevin Sweet wrote in an email to CTV News on Monday evening.

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Nearly 45,000 Canadians are in Lebanon, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.

Global Affairs said 20,323 of those Canadians are registered, which Sweet noted reflects only the number of people who voluntarily register in its system rather than an exact number.

The …