In Lebanon, Christians in Tyre are fleeing again under Israeli bombardment and fear permanent exile.

After believing they could return to normal life thanks to the ceasefire agreed upon in April between Israel and Hezbollah, many Christian residents of the city of Tyre are once again forced to flee. Recent Israeli bombings and evacuation orders have reignited fears of losing their historic presence in southern Lebanon.

Among them was Darine Al Jouny Safadi, who had returned to her home in the Christian quarter of Tyre after months of uncertainty. But a few weeks later, she and her family had to flee again to escape the fighting, this time fearing she might never be able to return home.

Concerns intensified when the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of a historic area of ​​the city before conducting airstrikes that it justified by the alleged presence of Hezbollah fighters. Israel claims to be targeting infrastructure linked to the Lebanese armed group, but has not publicly provided any evidence regarding the operations mentioned in this area.

Previous evacuation orders had spared the old Christian city. This time, the local population fears that the successive destructions and displacements will jeopardize a centuries-old religious and cultural heritage. Some residents have chosen to stay despite the risks, while others have sought refuge further north in the country.

The archbishop of the community described this new wave of displacement as the most difficult ordeal they have faced so far. According to him, beyond the material damage, the very future of the Christian communities in southern Lebanon is at stake.

Since the escalation of the conflict began, more than a million Lebanese have been displaced. For many Christian families in Tyre, the fear is no longer limited to bombings: it now concerns the possibility of permanently losing their homes, their land, and their historical roots in a region they have considered their home for generations.