A hill in the locality of Rmeish, in the district of Bint Jbeil, Southern Lebanon. Zohra Bensemra/Archives Reuters.
Since the beginning of the war in Lebanon, the border villages have come under increasing fire from Israel. This includes many Shia areas in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah operates, as well as a few Christian villages like Debl, Ain Ibl, Rmeish and Kaouzah in the Bint Jbeil district, Alma Shaab in Sour, and Deir Mimas in Marjeyoun. The residents of these towns have been living in fear, especially since the start of Israel's ground offensive.
In fact, two of these villages, Ain Ibl and Deir Mimas, are among those whose populations have been ordered to evacuate by the Israeli army ahead of the launch of its "ground operation."
"We are mostly afraid that our homes will be targeted and that those who have already left will not return," said Imad Lallous, the mayor of Aan Ebel, to L'Orient-Le Jour. Shortly after the evacuation order was issued, the village was hit by a strike that destroyed an unoccupied house. "It could be a mistake or aimed at scaring us," the mayor indicated.
A 93-Year-Old Woman Killed
In this context, fear has spread to all the villages. "This is probably a call for evacuation, so that the inhabitants, including those in the Christian villages, abandon the area," feared a man from Alma Shaab who requested anonymity.
"Many Christians now feel that returning home is no longer possible," he added, as this strategically located village has been the most targeted among the Christian localities since Oct. 8, 2023, and even more so since Sept. 23, when Israel chose to escalate.
As a couple from this town, a Lebanese man and his Romanian wife, had just left their home to take refuge in the church, their house was immediately bombed. A disabled 93-year-old woman who had refused to leave was killed. This scenario has repeated elsewhere in the village, where two houses were reduced to ashes, "knowing that both homes were completely empty," a resident said, implying that Israel's claim of the presence of Hezbollah fighters or weapons was not justified.
"Lebanon is still living in 2006, while in this war, Israel has already propelled itself into 2050. What awaits us looks far more tragic," added a Christian security official from Southern Lebanon.
In Rmeish, the largest Christian town in the region with over 10,000 people, residents are holding their breath.
"The Israelis know no red lines. We know them perfectly because we lived alongside them for two decades," testified a resident of Rmeish who requested anonymity for L'Orient Today. The reference is made to the period when the Israeli army occupied the border strip from 1978 to 2000, before withdrawing.
Even if they contest Hezbollah's opening of the "support front" for Hamas in October 2023—a war that is "certainly noble" but nonetheless comes "at the expense" of their survival—some Christians in the South do not hesitate to label Israel as an "enemy country."
On Friday, the perimeter of Rmeish was targeted by the Israeli army, even though this town had never been hit until now, except for its distant perimeter. "This time, the bombs fell near the homes," said Jean Alam, the local LF leader. "It was a strike we did not pay much attention to, and it caused no casualties or damage. There was nothing to target in the locality either," he commented, indicating that there is no Hezbollah presence in Rmeish.
The 2006 Agreement
Two days ago, the priest of the town, Father Nagib Amil, addressed the residents wishing to leave the village, in order to dissuade them. "I received messages regarding the situation in our locality. I was told not to let you leave," he said, assuring that it is the apostolic nuncio, Mgr. Paolo Borgia, who asks the people of Rmeish not to abandon their homes.
"Rmeish is not in danger, but Ain Ibl is," he said, inviting the residents of that other village to seek refuge in Rmeish, which has hosted the apostolic nuncio three times since the conflict began.
Notably, during the 2006 war, the Christian villages were spared due to an informal agreement reached under pressure from the Vatican. However, today, the circumstances have changed significantly. Israel has become uncontrollable and seeks to confront Hezbollah at any cost. It is even accused of wanting to occupy southern Lebanon again, at least temporarily, in order to barter its withdrawal.
As soon as the "support front" opened, Rmeish, Debl and Ain Ibl renewed the 2006 pact with Hezbollah, demanding its fighters not to position themselves in their respective villages, let alone fire on the enemy from there. Young people take turns guarding to ensure no weapons are introduced into their communities.
"Unfortunately, that is not the case in Alma Shaab," a resident of the village confided anonymously. Some, particularly those from the anti-Hezbollah camp, evidence the fact that this village has been much more targeted than others.
"Whether it concerns Christian, Druze, or Sunni localities, if they let Hezbollah operate in their homes, they will not escape Israel's wrath. If Hezbollah fires a rocket today from the maronite church headquarters, Bkerke will be targeted in turn," commented the spokesperson for the Lebanese Forces (LF), Charles Jabbour.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
