On Saturday, Sweden announced the closure of its embassy in Beirut due to escalating concerns about the conflict in Gaza potentially spreading throughout the region.
The Swedish government has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon amid these rising tensions.
The recent killings of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, and Fuad Shukr, a key Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon, in strikes attributed to Israel, have intensified regional strife.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström stated on Swedish Radio that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed its staff to leave Beirut and relocate temporarily to Cyprus.
The embassy closure is initially set for August but could be extended based on security assessments.
"The ministry is closely monitoring the situation," Billström added.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, up to 10,000 Swedish citizens have traveled to Lebanon this summer, despite a travel advisory against visiting Beirut issued in October 2023.
"I urge Swedes in Lebanon to leave the country by any means possible while they still can," Billström advised.
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