Israel has carried out sustained airstrikes on Lebanon since March 2, 2026, when Hezbollah — the Iran-backed Shia militant group — drew the country into the broader regional conflict with Israel by launching rockets across the border. Since then, Israeli forces have conducted deadly strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut and southern Lebanon, triggering a massive wave of civilian displacement.
Surge in Displacement
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced today that more than 667,000 people have been displaced inside Lebanon due to Israeli air raids — an increase of 100,000 in just the past 24 hours. Carolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR’s representative in Lebanon, told journalists in Geneva: “More than 667,000 people in Lebanon are now registered as internally displaced on the government’s electronic platform — a rise of 100,000 in a single day.” She added, “The number of displaced people continues to rise at this very moment.”
Shelter and Strain
Approximately 120,000 displaced people are sheltering in public buildings designated by the Lebanese government. But many more are staying with relatives or friends — while others remain on the move, seeking refuge. “We’re seeing cars lined up along roads with families sleeping inside them, and people sleeping on sidewalks,” Lindholm Billing said.
She noted that many of those displaced have fled for the second time since hostilities escalated in 2024. Most left in haste — with almost nothing — and are seeking safety in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, northern Lebanon, and parts of the Bekaa Valley.
Humanitarian Response Under Pressure
UNHCR’s Lebanon operation — currently funded at only 14% of its required budget — is supporting the Lebanese government and local authorities in responding to the humanitarian crisis. To date, the agency has distributed around 168,000 emergency relief items — including mattresses, blankets, sleeping bags, solar lamps, and water containers — to over 63,000 displaced people across more than 270 government-designated shelters.
Cross-Border Movement to Syria
Lindholm Billing also reported rising population movements toward Syria. “We’re observing increased cross-border movement into Syria, according to Syrian authorities,” she said. “More than 78,000 Syrians have returned from Lebanon to Syria since tensions escalated — in addition to over 7,700 Lebanese nationals.”
UNHCR teams are present at Syrian border crossings, working alongside Syrian authorities and partners to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to those arriving in Syria.