A surge of families, both Lebanese and Syrian, have fled Lebanon amidst escalating violence, seeking refuge in Syria. On Wednesday, long lines of vehicles and people on foot crowded the Syrian-Lebanese border, with many waiting hours to cross into Syria at Jdeidet Yabous.
UN officials estimate that thousands of families have already crossed the border, with more expected, as Israeli airstrikes intensify in southern and eastern Lebanon. Over 600 people have reportedly been killed, including a significant number of women and children, despite Israel’s claims that it is targeting Hezbollah.
Scenes of exhaustion and despair greeted journalists in the border town of Jdeidet Yabous, where families sat alongside roads, waiting for transport after long hours in traffic. Some were returning refugees, like Ahmed al-Halabi, who fled Syria in 2014 only to be driven out of southern Lebanon by the recent conflict. Many Lebanese families, such as those from the heavily bombed Bekaa Valley, also sought safety in Syria.
The exodus marks a reversal of roles, as Lebanon, which has hosted over a million Syrian refugees since the civil war in Syria began in 2011, now witnesses its own citizens fleeing across the border. Although fighting continues in Syria, large parts of the country are relatively stable, and Syrians and Lebanese alike see it as a safer alternative in the current crisis.
Crossing into Syria, however, brings challenges. Syrian refugees face the fear of arrest or forced conscription if they return, despite an amnesty issued by President Bashar Assad earlier this week. The amnesty, covering crimes committed before September 22, 2024, has not significantly allayed concerns among refugees wary of returning home. Despite similar efforts in the past, most Syrian refugees have remained hesitant to leave Lebanon, fearing persecution.
For now, Syria remains a temporary haven for families escaping the conflict next door, though the situation on both sides of the border remains fraught with uncertainty.