A Canadian military plane has left Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport carrying the first plane load of Syrian refugees for resettlement in Canada.

An airport source said the plane – a Canadian military CC-150 transport – headed to Toronto with 164 Syrian refugees on board.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the first plane was expected to land at Pearson at 9:15 p.m EST. A second CC-150 will carry more refugees from Beirut to Montreal on Saturday.

Sources: MENA