A Swiss flag (Credit: Odd Andersen/ AFP Archives)
The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) advises against travel to Lebanon, against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel — who have been in conflict for nearly nine months — amid fears of a broader war.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Swiss Embassy in Lebanon and Syria stressed that travel to Lebanon "has now become generally inadvisable." "A significant deterioration of the security situation in Lebanon can occur at any time." For those wishing to leave the country, the FDFA advises using currently available commercial transportation."The decision to leave a crisis region is an individual decision. It is made voluntarily, at your own risk and at your own expense. If you decide to leave the country, use available commercial transportation. Individual airlines have reduced or suspended their flights to Lebanon, information can be obtained from the airlines," says the department.
The statement added that Swiss nationals who wish to remain in Lebanon or travel to the country despite the FDFA's recommendations should be aware that if the security situation worsens "the Swiss Embassy in Beirut has only limited capacity to provide services or emergency assistance."
In this context, the Department invites Swiss nationals in need of assistance to contact the Swiss Embassy in Beirut on +961 1 324 129, by e-mail: beirut@eda.admin.ch or the FDFA Helpline, http://www.eda.admin.ch/beirut.
This change in the Swiss travel advisory follows Canada’s urging its citizens to leave Lebanon “while they can” on Tuesday.
On Friday, Kuwait also advised its nationals to leave “as soon as possible” and recommended against travel to Lebanon due to the security situation in the region.
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