On Wednesday, Switzerland urged its citizens to leave Lebanon, citing the highly unstable situation in the country. A source close to Hezbollah confirmed the "discovery of the body" of prominent party leader Fouad Shukr, following his death in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in the southern suburb of Beirut on Tuesday evening. The airstrike, followed by another hours later in Tehran that resulted in the death of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, has raised concerns that the war could expand into a broader regional conflict.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry, in an update to its travel advice for Lebanon, recommended that "Swiss citizens leave the country by their own means, if this seems possible and safe." It added, "The decision to leave the country is made voluntarily and at the risk and responsibility of the person leaving."
The Swiss embassy in Beirut remains open and will continue to provide its regular services. The Swiss Foreign Ministry stated that "Swiss citizens who decide to stay in the country or travel to Lebanon despite the recommendations of the Swiss Foreign Ministry should be aware that if the security situation deteriorates, Switzerland will only be able to offer limited services, if any, and will have limited capacity to provide emergency assistance."
It noted that a significant deterioration in the security situation throughout Lebanon is possible at any time, emphasizing that "targeted airstrikes could also endanger uninvolved individuals." The ministry indicated that fewer than a thousand Swiss citizens were living in Lebanon at the end of 2022.
