UNHCR: Over 200,000 Lebanese and Syrians Become Refugees

UNHCR: Over 200,000 Lebanese and Syrians Become Refugees
More than 200,000 people have been displaced inside Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Saturday (Sep 28, 2020). (ANTARA/Anadolu)

SEAToday.com, Istanbul - More than 200,000 people have been displaced inside Lebanese territory by Israeli airstrikes, said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Saturday (9/28).

“More than 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have now crossed into Syria to escape Israeli airstrikes,” Filippo Grandi wrote on the X platform.

“Relief operations are underway, including by UNHCR, to help all those in need, in cooperation with both governments,” he added.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border fighting since the start of Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has left nearly 41,600 casualties, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack on October 7.

Israel has recently stepped up its offensive in Lebanon, killing a number of senior Hezbollah commanders, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah, in airstrikes on Friday (9/ 27).

Intensive bombardment of various locations in Lebanon continued on Saturday (9/28).