Thousands of Lebanese have fled to war-torn Syria to escape Israeli air raids as the Israel-Hezbollah conflict is sharply escalating.
The Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon since September 23, resulting in an influx of a large number of Lebanese into neighboring Syria, with many border crossings between the two countries recording a sharp surge of entries.
Jusiyah, a major official border crossing between the two countries, has seen more than 60,000 refugees entering Syria from Lebanon.
The crossing, located in Homs, Syria, is a primary gateway to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, where many locals support Hezbollah, a militant group and a political party in Lebanon.
It used to serve as a gate for Syrian refugees entering Lebanon during the Syrian civil war. Now as Israel has intensified airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley, a large number of Lebanese have been entering Syria through this crossing.
Among the refugees is an exhausted elderly man who fled Lebanon with his wife to Syria to seek refuge. The arduous journey has exacerbated his illness, and he is currently receiving treatment from local aid agencies.
"A lot has happened in Lebanon. Homes have been destroyed, and civilians have been bombed. They target everything -- buildings, homes, everything. My husband fell ill. For him, I had to leave Lebanon," said the refugee's wife.
Despite having no ties in Syria, a Lebanese woman brought her children to Syria to temporarily escape the conflict.
"Yes, they are my children. Everywhere is full of fear and terror. The bombings target residential areas of civilians. There are no political targets. The children can only get some sleep when they are weary amid the bombings during those nights. There is nothing we can do about it," said a refugee.
Although the war in Syria is still going on, the Syrian authorities have established two refugee centers in the border town of Qusayr to accommodate Lebanese refugee families without other options in Syria.
Israeli forces and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border since last year, with growing concerns of a wider conflict as the war between Hamas and Israel intensifies in Gaza.
Thousands of Lebanese flee to Syria amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Thousands of Lebanese flee to Syria amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict
