Bashar al-Assad’s Close-Knit Family Flee to Lebanon

Many of those arriving in Lebanon are Syrian Christians and Shiites, who fear that after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, they will face attacks on their homes in Damascus and other parts of Syria. Lebanese officials have confirmed to Al Arabiya.net that high-level communications have taken place among Lebanese authorities, including politicians and security personnel. These discussions have centered on allowing Syrian families to enter Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing between Syria and Lebanon.

The majority of Syrians arriving in Lebanon are Christians and Shiites, who are concerned about potential assaults on their homes in Syria once the Assad regime collapses.

Information obtained by Al Arabiya.net reveals that former Syrian government officials and officers from both Alawite and Sunni backgrounds have sent their families to various regions of Lebanon. Some of them have rented apartments in Beirut and areas affiliated with Hezbollah.

In a related development, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati appealed on Saturday to Syrians seeking refuge in Lebanon to return to their homes after the fall of President Assad’s regime.

Mikati, speaking at a political symposium in Rome, stated, “The impact of the Syrian war has made Lebanon the country with the highest number of refugees relative to its population.” He added, “Syrian refugees now make up a third of our population.”

Speaking in English, Mikati also highlighted the strain on Lebanon’s resources, warning that it would exacerbate the country’s current economic challenges and rising unemployment.

According to officials, Lebanon’s population stands at 5.8 million, and the country is currently hosting around 2 million Syrians, with 800,000 of them registered as refugees by the United Nations.