Lebanese Christians suffer, hope amid Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Drones flying overhead and smoke rising from Israeli airstrikes outside his window have become a part of daily life for Marwan Aboul-Zelof, lead pastor of City Bible Church in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Aboul-Zelof, who is a dual citizen of Lebanon and the United States, and some members of his English-speaking church have recently helped several others move from their homes to a safer distance away from the attacks.

Aboul-Zelof talked about one new attendee who previously lived in a neighborhood that Israeli forces have hit multiple times. As airstrikes destroyed buildings within just a few minutes’ walk away from his home, the ground rumbled and remaining buildings shook violently.

Since September, Israel has intensified strikes against Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terror group backed by Iran. Israeli leaders say the escalation is necessary to stop the group from firing rockets and other projectiles into northern Israel so that the tens of thousands of Israelis who have been displaced from that region can return home. Hezbollah has been attacking Israel’s north since Oct. 8, 2023, supporting Hamas, a Gaza-based Palestinian militant group, which launched terror attacks on Israel one day earlier. Many civilians—including Lebanese Christians—are caught in the crossfire.

Until recently, about 100 people gathered for Sunday service at City Bible Church, which Aboul-Zelof and his wife, Marci, started in 2018. But attendance has shrunk as many members have left the country or avoided driving into the capital amid increasing airstrikes. Many schools have switched to conducting classes online, while restaurants, shops, and offices have become largely empty.

Hezbollah is the strongest and most experienced fighting force out of all the Iran-backed militant groups in the Middle East. Iranian proxy groups operate in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Gaza, surrounding Israel with a “ring of fire,” according to William Inboden. Hezbollah routinely uses its military know-how to train fighters from the other groups within the alliance. And Hezbollah has more ideological and sectarian similarities with Iran than other proxy groups. Iran’s government and Hezbollah belong to the minority Shiite branch of Islam, while Hamas adheres to the majority Sunni beliefs.

Israel has targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon’s south, striking also the port city of Tyre. It recently expanded bombardment to the country’s central and northern regions such as the Bekaa Valley, Beirut, and the capital’s southern suburbs. According to Lebanese officials, at least 2,350 people have been killed in Lebanon since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7 last year. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has also forced an estimated 1.3 million people in Lebanon to flee from their homes, some escaping to Turkey and Syria. On Israel’s side, Hezbollah attacks have killed 60 people, according to Israeli authorities.

Lebanese people are divided over support for Hezbollah, which is also a political party with representation in Lebanon’s parliament. Hezbollah has gained influence in Lebanon, where political gridlock has prevented parliament from electing a president since October 2022. Lebanon is under a caretaker government with limited powers as the country grapples with a financial crisis.

“There is a sense of, ‘Well, who else is going to protect us from Israel?’” said Aboul-Zelof. He was shocked to learn some Christians within his circles believe Lebanon needs Hezbollah to defend it. Aboul-Zelof thinks a historic fear in Lebanon, stemming from the decadeslong conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, has contributed to some relying on Hezbollah as a protector.

Israel’s recent attacks have targeted areas not typically associated with Hezbollah. On Oct. 14, Israel launched an airstrike on Aitou, a predominantly Maronite Catholic village in northern Lebanon. Local officials said the attack killed at least 23 people in the mountainous region known for its olive groves and sea-view roads. Parts of the area have been reduced to heaps of rubble. Prior to the strike, a Hezbollah official visited houses in the village and gave money to people who had been displaced, including those from southern Lebanon, a villager told NBC News.

Israel says that Hezbollah is using the Lebanese people as human shields, hiding fighters and weapons in residential areas. In a televised address on Sept. 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told residents of Lebanon that Hezbollah was putting “rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garage.”

“Please, get out of harm’s way now. Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes,” Netanyahu said.

Israeli strikes have recently killed at least eight high-ranking Hezbollah officials, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, the presumed successor to Nasrallah. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has said it will continue to target Israel until Israel and Hamas reach a ceasefire in Gaza.

“What we see happening in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East every day is the result of a broken world,” said Tom Atema, co-founder of U.S.-based Heart for Lebanon. In addition to providing mattresses, pillows, and cleaning detergent, the Christian aid organization’s team in Lebanon began distributing daily food boxes to up to 850 families, who often lack the means to cook. Its staff have also gone to southern Lebanon to hold activities for children. “The games, Bible stories, and snacks just let the kids be kids for a couple of hours,” said Atema.

Despite the ongoing strikes, Aboul-Zelof, his wife, and their two young sons do not plan to leave. “We have this sense of conviction that if the Lord allows, we want to be able to stay,” said Aboul-Zelof, who is aware that many in his church do not have the option of leaving the country. Still, he feels fear even as he is committed to staying.

While the fighting has made many residents anxious, “every time we’ve gathered in the church, there’s been just a sense of relief, a sense of peace that can only come from being around God’s people, sitting under God’s word,” he said.

Aboul-Zelof said he looks forward to the day when Christ will return: “That eternal hope helps us in our difficulties today.”