Residents of the predominantly Christian southern villages of Rmeish, Debel, and Ain Ebel are experiencing growing anxiety following the sudden withdrawal of security forces and the closure of local police stations on Tuesday, according to local officials and community leaders.
Concerns intensified after units of the Lebanese Army redeployed from Ain Ebel toward Rmeish, in what residents fear may be a prelude to a broader military withdrawal from the area. Residents say the absence of security forces raises serious concerns about their safety and the stability of the area.
“The state has taken a decision to leave us and withdraw,” said the mayor of Ain Ebel, Ayoub Khreish, describing the move as a shock. “We wanted the army to remain to protect us, and now we do not know what our situation will be after the personnel leave,” he added.
In Rmeish, priest Father Najeeb Al-Amil struck a defiant tone, saying residents would remain despite the uncertainty. “As long as there is land and water in the village, we will stay here and die on our land,” he said. “We will not leave, no matter the cost.”
The situation underscores mounting unease in Lebanon’s southern border regions, where shifting security dynamics continue to impact local communities and raise questions about the government’s ability to maintain a stable presence on the ground.
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