As Israeli bombardments intensified in Lebanon on Monday, hundreds of Lebanese people and displaced Syrians in the country are seeking refuge in Syria.
The border crossings are jammed with refugees trying to escape the escalating conflict.
Carrying as many basic belongings as they can, hundreds of desperate civilians rushed to Lebanon's border with Syria.
Among them were not only Lebanese nationals, but also Syrians who fled war and economic hardship years ago.
"I came to Lebanon to work four years ago, and I was making a good living. But all of a sudden, the war broke out and we decided to return to Syria, although the situation in Syria is also bad. My relatives were killed by an air strike while driving behind our car. And we barely survived," said a displaced Syrian named Ahmad at the Jdeideh Yabous border crossing in Damascus' countryside.
Displaced Syrian citizen Faisal moved to Lebanon five years ago for work. An Israeli air strike damaged his house in eastern Lebanon, turning his savings and personal belongings into ashes. He had spent the whole day trying to cross into Syria -- without success.
"There was an air strike that hit my home and I lost everything inside. I lost my identification documents and the money, around 5,000 U.S. dollars, and all other documents of my family were burnt to ashes. My family and I survived the air strike," said Faisal.
The escalation of Israeli air strikes has forced many Lebanese nationals to flee to Syria.
"At that time, the bombings started and were increasing gradually. That night and during the whole day, the air strikes were intensive and unstoppable. They were targeting every place including civilian homes, destroying the roads. No place is spared," said Huda, a Lebanese citizen.
In an address to the newly-formed government, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that the country has scarce resources, which were depleted further by the years of war, but, he said, Syria must help the displaced Lebanese people.
Israel has intensified its air strikes across Lebanon since Monday, marking the most extensive Israeli military action in the country since 2006. Lebanon's Health Ministry reported nearly 700 deaths due to the strikes this week.
Israel's latest escalation further fueled its ongoing clashes with Hezbollah that began on Oct 8, 2023, when Hezbollah started launching rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas, prompting Israel's retaliatory artillery fire and air strikes in southeastern Lebanon.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry on Saturday, 1,640 people in Lebanon, including 104 children and 194 women, have been killed and 8,408 more injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since Oct 8 last year.
Refugees flock to Syria as Israel intensifies strikes across Lebanon
Refugees flock to Syria as Israel intensifies strikes across Lebanon
