Sweden announced on Saturday that it was closing its embassy in Beirut amid fears of the war in Gaza escalating into a regional conflict. It had previously urged thousands of its citizens to leave Lebanon, Paralel.Az reports.

The killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders this week, for which Israel is blamed, has increased regional tensions around the war in Gaza.

“The Foreign Ministry has instructed its staff to leave Beirut and go to Cyprus, and the Foreign Ministry is planning a temporary relocation of its embassy,” FM Tobias Bilstrom told Swedish Radio.

The decision was “initially taken for August, but it may be extended, depending on the security situation.” “The ministry is closely monitoring developments,” he said.

According to the Swedish Foreign Ministry, up to 10,000 Swedes may have travelled to Lebanon this summer, ignoring the travel warning in place for the country from October 2023.

“I urge Swedes in Lebanon to leave the country by any means possible while they still can,” he said.