Two Canadians are among those killed in southern Lebanon, Global Affairs Canada confirmed late Tuesday. While GAC has not confirmed their names due to privacy, family members told CTV News the two people killed are husband and wife Hussein and Daad Tabaja.
鈥淚t鈥檚 devastating for the family,鈥� the couple鈥檚 son, Kamal Tabaja, told CTV National News. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what you want to call it, it鈥檚 like a dark dream.鈥�
Tabaja said his parents were trying to leave their home in southern Lebanon and were stuck in heavy traffic when they were hit by an airstrike. Family members had been trying to reach them for hours, and Tabaja said eventually their burnt-out BMW was found in a ditch.
He said his parents鈥� bodies were badly burned but his mother鈥檚 watch was found inside the vehicle.
While the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had given people living in Lebanon鈥檚 south warning to leave ahead of ramped up airstrikes, Tabaja said people like his parents were not given enough time, and that his parents spent hours in traffic trying to flee.
鈥淭hey bombarded the roads,鈥� he said of the IDF. 鈥淏ombarded people who have nothing to do with this conflict.鈥�
CTV News has reached out to the IDF and the Embassy of Israel in Canada for comment
Husein and Daad Tabaja lived in southern Lebanon. They were also Canadian citizens and moved to Ottawa in the 1990s to raise their six children.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said they are aware of the deaths of two Canadians and are closely monitoring the situation.
鈥淭he Government of Canada is reiterating that Canadians should leave now, while the airport is still accessible and commercial airline options remain available,鈥� GAC told CTV News in a statement.
Canada is not, at this point, offering assisted departures or evacuations to Canadians in Lebanon.
鈥淭here is never a guarantee the Canadian government will evacuate Canadians in a crisis situation. Canadians should not rely on the Government of Canada for assisted departure or evacuation,鈥� wrote GAC, calling evacuations from foreign countries a measure of 鈥渓ast resort.鈥�
It also encouraged Canadians abroad to ensure their travel documents are up-to-date and accessible. People requiring consular assistance in Lebanon should call +961 4 726 700 to reach Canada鈥檚 local embassy.
