Human rights activists have reported that more than 100 Syrian refugees, including 23 women and 32 children, have been killed since the onset of intense Israeli bombings in Lebanon.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that Syrian refugees, who initially fled their homeland to escape war, now face a grim choice between enduring Israeli bombardment in Lebanon or risking arrest and abduction by returning to areas controlled by the Syrian government.
Lebanon is currently home to an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, many of whom have been rendered homeless due to rising living costs. The recent Israeli attacks have further worsened their plight, with many now sleeping in parks and on the streets.
In response to the escalating violence, some refugees residing in eastern Lebanon have crossed back into Syria, despite the ongoing lack of safe return opportunities almost 15 years after the start of the Syrian civil war.
According to UN statistics, around 200,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced by Israeli attacks since October 2023, adding to the growing refugee crisis in the region.
