Ottawa says avoid all travel to Israel as the country braces for potential Iranian attack

The federal government is recommending that Cana‐ dians avoid all travel to Is‐ rael, stating that the coun‐ try faces a "heightened risk" of an attack on its ter‐ ritory.

Israel is bracing for a pos‐ sible Iranian attack after an airstrike killed two Iranian generals in Syria last week. The same blast also dam‐ aged the Canadian embassy in Damascus.

Iran has blamed Israel for the airstrike and has vowed revenge. Israel has not com‐ mented on the strike.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly posted on X, for‐ merly Twitter, that Canadians should avoid all travel to Is‐ rael and the West Bank.

"With a heightened risk of attacks on Israeli territory, the regional security situa‐ tion remains highly volatile & could escalate without notice," she said.

"Canadians should con‐ sider leaving by commercial means."

Since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began six mon‐ ths ago, there have been al‐ most daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group along the Is‐ rael-Lebanon border.

U.S. officials have recorded more than 150 at‐ tacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on U.S. forces at bases in those countries since the war be‐ gan on Oct. 7.

WATCH | Israel braces for possible Iran revenge attack

Israel's military says it has prepared plans to respond to an Iranian attack.

The Israeli army's spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said late Friday that Israel is ready for a "wide variety of scenarios" that include both defensive and offensive actions. He al‐ so said that Israel's military chief has completed a situa‐ tion assessment with the head of the U.S. Central Com‐ mand, Gen. Erik Kurilla, who is visiting Israel.

"Our defences are ready and know how to deal with every threat separately," Ha‐ gari told reporters. "Next to defence, we are prepared to attack. We are ready to attack with a range of capabilities and we know how to act and protect the people of Israel."

Iran has a number of proxy groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen that are all capable of striking Is‐ rael. Iran also possesses long-range missiles that can reach Israel. Israeli leaders have threatened to strike Iran directly if it attacks.