Lebanon’s northern border has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of displaced Syrians entering the country in recent days, with thousands fleeing clashes in Syria’s coastal areas. The influx, concentrated in the border region of Akkar, comes after security confrontations between Syrian government forces and supporters of the former regime, prompting hundreds to seek refuge in northern Lebanese villages.

Lebanese lawmaker Sajih Attieh was the first to sound the alarm over the growing displacement, warning of “very large waves” of Syrians crossing into Akkar.

“In just one day, 10,000 people arrived, crossing the border illegally from Syria’s coastal region,” Attieh told Asharq Al-Awsat. “Thousands are settling in five or six Alawite villages in Akkar, where a single home now shelters dozens of people.”

Attieh noted that the situation is exacerbated by the lack of official crossings in northern Lebanon.

“The three legal border points—Arida, Aboudieh, and Bqaiyaa—were bombed by Israel, leaving no General Security presence to regulate the influx. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army is not intervening to stop these waves of displacement,” he added.

The MP urged the Lebanese government to take immediate action by documenting the arrivals and organizing their entry, lamenting the failure to learn from previous waves of displacement.

“If this continues, one million additional Syrian refugees will be added to the two million already in Lebanon,” he warned.

Attieh highlighted the growing pressure on Akkar, which he described as an already displaced community within Lebanon.

“Akkar is hosting thousands of additional refugees, and another 2,000 have recently arrived in Jabal Mohsen, a neighborhood in Tripoli,” he said.

Attieh confirmed that he had briefed Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who in turn informed Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to take the necessary measures.

Despite the influx, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is not involved in registering new arrivals at the northern border crossings or providing them with humanitarian assistance, according to available information.

Retired Brigadier General George Nader, a native of Akkar, criticized Lebanon’s transformation into a host country for waves of displaced people.

“Every time Syria experiences instability, hundreds of thousands flock to Lebanon,” Nader told Asharq Al-Awsat. “Can Lebanon handle another million Syrian refugees on top of the two million already here? With Palestinian refugees also in the country, the number of displaced persons could exceed that of Lebanese citizens. Would any country in the world accept such a reality?”

Nader called on the United Nations and the Arab League to assume responsibility, arguing that Lebanon cannot sustain the economic, demographic, and social burden.

“We simply cannot handle the economic consequences, the demographic shift, or the pressure on our infrastructure,” he stressed.

According to official Lebanese data, more than two million Syrian refugees currently reside in the country. Although approximately 300,000 Syrians returned following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, thousands have since re-entered Lebanon due to worsening economic conditions in Syria.

Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati attempted to advance the issue of refugee repatriation during a visit to Damascus in January, where he met with Syrian President Ahmad Shar’a. However, no tangible progress has been made. Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun also raised the matter with Shar’a on the sidelines of an Arab League summit in Egypt.

During their discussions, both sides agreed to form joint committees to address the issue once a new Syrian government is in place. They also emphasized “the necessity of securing the borders between the two countries to prevent all forms of violations.”

With no immediate solutions in sight and the number of displaced continuing to rise, Lebanon faces mounting challenges in managing the latest surge of Syrian refugees.