The move comes as European governments intensify efforts to deport Syrians following the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the formation of a new administration in Damascus [Getty]
Lebanese authorities have issued a directive allowing Syrians deported from Europe to transit through Beirut airport on their way back to Syria, a move that has sparked fears of Lebanon’s role in the forced deportation of refugees.
The circular, signed by the head of airport security on Monday, instructed airlines to facilitate the transportation of Syrians who had entered Europe via irregular routes and wished to transit through Lebanon before continuing to Syria.
The move aligns with findings from a recent investigation by The New Arab, which revealed that some European countries were “quietly” deporting Syrians via Lebanon and Jordan under the guise of “voluntary” returns.
Critics warn that the latest directive could turn Lebanon into a permanent holding zone for Syrians expelled from Europe, as international pressure mounts to prevent their direct return to Syria.
Lebanon’s former Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar voiced scepticism about the alleged scheme, questioning Lebanon’s ability to manage the return of refugees at such a scale.
“Europe is deporting all those who entered illegally – does Lebanon have the ability and the political will to do the same?” Hajjar asked in comments carried by local media.
He also pointed to serious gaps in Lebanon’s transit policy, saying it wasn’t clear whether deported Syrians would then be flown directly or Damascus or transported by land.
“If Lebanon is only a transit country, what is the mechanism for deportation to Syria? Will Syrians be flown directly from Beirut to Damascus, or will they be transported by land? These are questions the government and General Security must answer.”
The Lebanese government is yet to formally comment on the directive. The New Arab has contacted the Interior Ministry, the Prime Minister’s office and the General Security for comment but received no response at the time of publication.
The move comes as European governments intensify efforts to deport Syrians following the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the formation of a new administration in Damascus.
According to the latest EU statistics, Syrian citizens constituted the largest group of non-EU citizens found to be irregularly present in the bloc in 2023. Most had fled during the regime’s brutal military assault on rebel areas and mass detention of perceived opponents.
This has fuelled European governments’ push to accelerate deportations, despite ongoing concerns over human rights and security conditions in Syria.
Several European nations, including the UK, Denmark, and Austria, have restricted or withheld asylum applications for Syrians, arguing that conditions in certain parts of Syria no longer justify refugee protection.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s newly formed government is eager to secure international legitimacy and could be aligning its policies with European interests to gain diplomatic and financial support.
Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs Hanine Al-Sayed told An-Nashra that she was unaware of the decision but insisted that Lebanon must prioritise its interests.
“Europe is acting in its own interests, and Lebanon must do the same. If the process is not clearly defined, we could soon see a new wave of [Syrian] refugee arrivals from all over the world,” she said.
