Thousands of Syrian Alawites are crossing into northern Lebanon to escape violence amid clashes involving interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces and loyalists to Bashar al-Assad. This mass displacement has raised concerns among Lebanese officials regarding potential sectarian tensions and the management of refugee influx, with calls for government action to prevent further crisis.
In recent days, an estimated thousands of Syrian Alawites have fled northern Lebanon due to escalating violence in coastal Syria. The primary destination for these refugees is Akkar, Lebanon’s northernmost governorate, which borders Syria. The ongoing strife includes clashes between interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces and loyalists of former President Bashar al-Assad, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
Interim President al-Sharaa asserts that his administration’s forces are combatting insurgents who have attacked state facilities. However, social media reports indicate that the violence is affecting many civilians, not just supporters of the ousted regime, as individuals share their personal accounts and images of their plight.
The violence predominantly occurs in the Alawite-majority coastal governorates of Latakia and Tartus, where the sect has significant connections to the former Assad regime. With over 1,000 deaths reported, including more than 700 Alawites per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there is escalating concern about potential sectarian conflict.
Many refugees have sought shelter in Akkar and nearby Tripoli. This has elicited alarm from some Lebanese officials who worry that the influx may exacerbate tensions due to the historical animosities between different sectarian groups in these areas. MP Sajih Attieh has highlighted the substantial displacement, noting thousands have settled in several Alawite villages in Akkar and Tripoli’s Jabal Mohsen neighborhood.
Attieh reported overwhelming numbers of arrivals, with up to 10,000 individuals crossing illegal border points amidst a lack of legal crossings exacerbated by previous Israeli military actions. Current conditions have led to the Lebanese army allowing refugees to enter without restriction, stressing the need for regulatory measures to manage this population surge effectively.
The unofficial borders between Lebanon and Syria have long contributed to issues of smuggling and human trafficking. The Lebanese government is urged to take proactive measures to account for and manage the influx of refugees. Attieh cautioned that if the situation on the border does not stabilize, Lebanon could see an additional million displaced Syrians joining the already significant refugee population of approximately 2 million since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
The recent surge of Syrian Alawites fleeing violence highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by political turmoil. With thousands seeking safety in northern Lebanon, the potential for heightened sectarian tensions and the strain on existing resources presents serious challenges for the Lebanese government. Urgent action is required to manage the influx of refugees and ensure stability within the region, given the historical context and current instability.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
