Lebanese Druze town screens war refugees for Hezbollah links

Authorities in the Druze-majority city of Aley are screening thousands of war refugees arriving from southern Lebanon, fearing the presence of militants could trigger Israeli air strikes on the mountain town.

The city, perched on Mount Lebanon about 20km from Beirut, has become a refuge for civilians fleeing the expanding conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Local officials are now demanding identity documents from every arriving family in a bid to reassure residents and prevent militants from slipping in among the displaced.

“Your name? Phone number? City of origin?” asks municipal official Akram Abu Fakhr as he records details from refugees arriving daily. Around 50 to 70 people register each day as families continue to pour into the city.

Security fears shape humanitarian response

More than 6,000 displaced civilians have already arrived in Aley, according to local authorities. Across Lebanon, officials say more than one million people have been uprooted since early March as the war intensifies.

The fear driving the screening process is simple: if Israeli intelligence believes Hezbollah fighters are hiding among civilians, entire neighbourhoods could become targets.

Recent Israeli strikes have already expanded beyond Hezbollah strongholds, hitting residential districts in Beirut such as Aisha Bakkar and Raouche. Israeli officials say the attacks targeted operatives linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

That escalation has made some Lebanese communities wary of accepting refugees from the south.

Displacement and suspicion

Aley’s authorities have created a hotline allowing residents to report unfamiliar newcomers, with around 70 police officers monitoring the city around the clock.

“We verify every report immediately,” said local security official Fady Chehayeb, insisting the system is designed to reassure residents while protecting displaced families.

For many refugees, survival now depends on balancing safety with suspicion.

Mohammed, a father of six who fled a border village, says the fear is understandable. But after weeks of bombardment, his priority is simple.

“I understand they want security,” he said. “But the most important thing is that my children are safe — and that one day we can return home.”

Fearing Israeli strikes, a Druze village screens for Hezbollah militants among Lebanon’s displaced