Israeli airstrikes and the burgeoning ground assault by Israel have forced dozens of Lebanese Christians into a monastery near Israel’s border.
Milad Louis is the head of Ain Ebel municipality, a predominantly Christian town. He said Israeli airstrikes forced Ain Ebel to evacuate within 45 minutes.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, he said the situation was “devastating” from Our Lady of Annunciation Monastery and School, a Maronite Christian Institution less than 2 miles away from Israel. “Why us? “Israel knows there is no Hezbollah at Ain Ebel.”
Israel said that it was not at war in general with Lebanon, and claimed that it is only targeting Hezbollah fighters and weapons. Hezbollah is a Shia resistance group that was founded in the 1980s as a response to Israel’s occupation of Southern Lebanon. It has been declared a terrorist organization by the U.S.
According to Our Lady of Annunciation’s head, who is not being identified for safety reasons, at least 800 people fled into the border town of Rmeish. According to officials at the monastery, 70 villagers took refuge in the nearby school and monastery. Residents also opened their homes to another 30 people fleeing violence.
Louis was among the hundreds of people who were forced to leave their homes in Ain Ebel, Israel on Tuesday morning. The Israeli military had warned them to evacuate. Only 10 people remained in Ain Ebel on Wednesday.
Local officials report that Ain Ebel residents are now part of a growing number — about 1 million people — who have fled their homes during an Israeli offensive that has killed over 1,000 people so far in Lebanon.
On Wednesday morning the head of Rmeish’s monastery expressed concern for the safety and security of residents in the area, as loud explosions were heard nearby.
Today the situation is very bad. “Are you hearing the explosions?” They asked in a phone call.
The monastery’s head said that officials are now working on evacuating the dozens of families who still take refuge in the monastery. The fleeing families will head north to Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.
They said that “we are preparing a consignment to escort displaced Ain Ebel residents who arrived yesterday”, adding that they “were waiting for the right moment…since the bombings are very close.” The papal nuncio, the patriarchate, and other officials were asked to help organize an evacuation. A convoy was sent out with around 30 residents, mostly families with small children.
Four priests, who said they would not leave the monastery, remained. According to those who remained, around 70 other people also stayed at the monastery, in the school, or with locals.
Jihan Kaisi is the executive director of the Union of Relief and Development Associations (URDA), an organization that helps displaced people in Lebanon. He said that Lebanese authorities had warned organizations on the ground that traveling during Israeli strikes was dangerous, and that those who were displaced would have few options.
She said, “Even going to the North is dangerous because bombings are on their way.” There are so many bombings going on.
