Ottawa is urging Canadians to avoid all travel to Syria and to consider leaving the country if it’s safe to do so.
An updated travel advisory is warning people to avoid the Middle Eastern country due to what the Canadian government calls “ongoing armed conflict, terrorism, criminality, arbitrary detention, torture and forced disappearance.”
The update comes after opposition forces entered the Syrian capital of Damascus, ending half a century of rule by the Assad government.
Get daily National news
Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country on Sunday, bringing to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto control as his country fragmented in a brutal civil war.
Canada has urged its citizens to leave Syria since November 2011, and its embassy in Damascus suspended its operations in 2012.
Ottawa describes the security situation as volatile, and says the Damascus and Aleppo airports as well as some border crossings are closed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024.
— With files from The Associated Press
- Epstein files fallout: People who’ve resigned or been fired after DOJ release
- Inuit look to Greenland’s social model as Canada pursues military buildup in Arctic
- White House says tariff rollback reports ‘speculation’ unless announced
- Europe looks to boost its security, urges U.S. to ‘repair and revive trust’
-
![]()
Global News at 6:00 Toronto: February. 13, 2026 -
![]()
Russian drone strike kills one as Ukrainian official urges Europe to “prepare yourself” for war -
![]()
‘A world disorder’: European leaders call for increased defence spending amid geopolitical shift -
![]()
Ukraine’s Heraskevych disqualified from Olympics over skeleton helmet
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.