Christians in Lebanon Take Precautionary Measures, Fear Expansion of ISIL

Following the latest incidents in the northeastern border town of Arsal, fears that they could be the next target for the terrorist ISIL organization compelled the Christians in Lebanon to take precautionary protective measures, the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Saturday.

The latest developments in Iraq where hundreds of thousands of Christians and Yazidis have been displaced, aggravated fears that the the Christian community in Lebanon would face the same fate.

More than one million and 154,000 Syrian refugees currently live in Lebanon, and are a source of fear for Christians who are a minority compared to the number of Shiites and Sunnis.

The above compelled the municipalities in different Lebanese regions to take precautionary measures and monitor the movement of refugees, in a bid to stop any similar incidents to those that erupted in Arsal.

Arsal, whose residents have been broadly supportive of the rebellion against Syrian President Bashar Assad, is currently playing host to 47,000 Syrian refugees.

Many of them sought refuge there after Syrian government troops ousted rebels from the Qalamun region over the border.

From August 2 to 6, Arsal was the scene of fierce clashes between army troops and jihadists who came over from Syria.

The Lebanese Army, security forces and the municipal police upped security measures on Friday around houses of worship as the Christian community marked the Assumption of Virgin Mary Day.

Christian areas, like other Lebanese regions host hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees most of whom live in popular residential areas that have been raided lately by security forces in search of wanted individuals.

According to head of the Dekwaneh municipality Antoine Shakhtura, where the majority are Christians, “around 10,000 Syrian refugees living in the area have filled paper forms in the framework of organizing the Syrian presence,” a move initiated by the municipality and criticized later by media.

Furthermore, several christian villages on the north borders of the country tasked the youths with watching the entrances, major roads and even the valleys of the area which may constitute a point of attraction to terrorist.

The main Christian parties, in particular the Free Patriotic Movement led by MP Michel Aoun, Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, Kataeb Party led by former President Amin Gemayel and the Marada Movement led by MP Suleiman Franjieh, are following up closely on the matter.

Unlike all other christian leaders, Geagea appeased the Lebanese in an interview on Friday saying that the the ISIL is a “big lie” that will disappear as fast as it grew.

"The ISIL is not an existential danger in Lebanon or the Middle East. What changed the equation in Iraq is the fragmented political situation that led to the creation of the ISIL. While in Lebanon, there is a state that exists and an army that contained the Arsal incidents with its capabilities.”

D.A.

H.K.