Switzerland urges nationals to leave Lebanon

BARN (AFP): Switzerland on Wednesday urged its nationals to leave Lebanon, noting the highly volatile situation in the country.

Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group said Wednesday that senior military commander Fuad Shukr was inside a south Beirut building hit by Israel the previous day but said his fate remained unknown.

The strike, which was followed by another, hours later, which killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, triggered fears the war in Gaza could escalate into a region-wide conflict.

“The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs recommends that Swiss nationals leave the country by their own means, if this seems possible and safe,” the Swiss foreign ministry said in its updated Lebanon travel advice.

“The decision to leave the country is taken voluntarily, at the risk and expense of the person leaving the country.”

It said the Swiss embassy in Beirut remained open and would continue to provide its regular services.

“Swiss nationals who decide to remain in the country or travel to Lebanon despite the FDFA’s recommendations should, however, be aware that if the security situation worsens, Switzerland would be able to provide only limited services, if any, and would have only limited possibilities to provide assistance in an emergency,” the foreign ministry said.

It said a significant deterioration of the security situation throughout Lebanon was possible at any time, while “targeted airstrikes can also endanger uninvolved persons”.

Just under a thousand Swiss nationals were living in Lebanon at the end of 2022, the ministry says.

Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel since its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking war in Gaza.