Armenian Neighborhoods in Lebanon Remain Calm as Regional Tensions Rise

INTERVIEW: As fears of a major escalation between Israel and Hezbollah spread across Lebanon this week, members of Lebanon’s Armenian community say daily life in Armenian neighborhoods has remained calm despite growing regional tensions.

The Armenian Report spoke with Aram Somounjian, media representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Lebanon, about the situation on the ground following reports that Israel was preparing strikes against Beirut’s southern suburbs.

“On Monday and yesterday, there were reports that Israel was expected to target the southern suburbs of Beirut,” Somounjian said. “In light of that, many members of the Shiite population began organizing actions and reactions.”

The reports triggered panic in parts of Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Residents began fleeing the area amid fears of large-scale Israeli bombardments after Israel threatened retaliation following Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks against northern Israel.

However, Somounjian said tensions eased later in the evening after reports emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump had mediated an understanding aimed at preventing attacks on Beirut and its surrounding suburbs.

“But later in the evening, reports emerged that through the mediation of President Trump, an agreement had been reached that Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, and its southern suburbs would not be targeted,” he said. “As a result, the situation became calmer for us.”

According to Somounjian, the atmosphere in Beirut’s southern suburbs has since stabilized, with no strikes taking place there despite fears of imminent attacks.

“During yesterday, there was some panic in the southern suburbs because people were trying to flee, but now things have become more normal again, and no bombardments have taken place in the southern suburbs,” he said.

Although Beirut was spared, fighting continues in southern Lebanon, where Israeli military operations remain active. Israel has expanded its presence in parts of southern Lebanon following months of cross-border clashes with Hezbollah that intensified after the outbreak of the broader regional conflict earlier this year.

“Part of southern Lebanon is already occupied by Israel, while military operations are continuing in other parts,” Somounjian said. “However, the population there has already been evacuated and has not been living there since the beginning of the war.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the conflict, Somounjian emphasized that Lebanon’s Armenian community has not experienced widespread panic and that Armenian-populated neighborhoods continue functioning normally.

“There is no panic within the Armenian community, and Armenian neighborhoods in general are safe, with life continuing normally,” he said.

He noted that Armenian community life has continued uninterrupted in recent days despite the regional instability. Events commemorating May 28, the anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia, were held across Lebanese Armenian communities during the past week, while schools also carried out end-of-year celebrations.

“Just to give an idea, during the past week various events dedicated to May 28, the First Republic of Armenia Day, took place, and this week schools held their end-of-year celebrations,” Somounjian said. “Life is continuing in a normal way.”

Lebanon is home to one of the largest and oldest Armenian diaspora communities in the Middle East, with large Armenian populations concentrated in Beirut and surrounding areas. The community has historically played a major role in Lebanon’s political, cultural, and educational life.

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict has displaced more than one million people across Lebanon since fighting escalated earlier this year. While diplomatic efforts have temporarily prevented strikes on Beirut, the ceasefire remains fragile as military operations continue in southern Lebanon and both sides warn of further escalation.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.