Canada announced that it has allocated 800 additional seats on commercial flights, to help its citizens leave Lebanon, as the Israeli army began a ground operation in the south of the country.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said on the X website that “the security situation in Lebanon has become more dangerous and volatile.”

She added: “To help Canadians leave Lebanon faster, we are currently increasing the volume of commercial flights, and we have reserved 800 additional seats over the next three days.”

On Tuesday, the Israeli army announced the start of the ground operation in Lebanon, and Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army spokesman, confirmed to the Arab media that the operation was against Hezbollah.

Avichai Adraee said, on the “X” platform, that Israeli forces began a “targeted and precise” ground operation against Hezbollah targets in the area near the border in southern Lebanon.

He added: “The army worked according to an arranged plan that was prepared in the General Staff and in the Northern Command, for which the forces trained over the course of recent months, and the ground forces were supported by air attacks by the Air Force and artillery shelling targeting military targets in the region in full coordination with the infantry forces.”

He continued: “The phases of the campaign have been approved and are being implemented in accordance with the decision of the political level. The army continues to fight and work to achieve the goals of the war, and is doing everything required to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”