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Hezbollah Loyalists Flow into Three Syrian Governorates.. Fears of Demographic Change
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Numbers show Lebanese prefer to settle specifically in Homs, raising questions about its relation to its proximity to Lebanese borders and Hezbollah's areas of influence
Official statistics presented by pro-Syrian regime media outlets revealed an influx of about 442,000 people from Lebanon into Syrian regime-controlled areas until the end of October 2024, amid fears of systematic demographic changes.
The Syrian arrivals were distributed across three main governorates, with Rural Damascus attracting the largest number at 169,817 people, followed by Homs accommodating 88,919 arrivals, then Tartus which received 25,313 Syrians, reflecting a notable population concentration.
Regarding Lebanese arrivals, Homs led the scene by hosting 89,876 people, followed by Rural Damascus which absorbed 57,134 Lebanese, while Tartus ranked third by receiving 10,737 arrivals.
Syrian opposition activists expressed concern about these unprecedented population movements, indicating that the vast majority of Lebanese arrivals belong to the Shiite sect and are loyal to Hezbollah.
Local sources suggest that the selection of these three governorates comes within a studied strategy, as they form a geographic triangle connecting the Syrian coast to Damascus through Homs.
Syrian affairs experts view these population movements as potentially preceding wider demographic changes, especially as they coincide with Hezbollah's strengthening of its military and economic influence in those areas.
Syrian human rights organizations fear that this influx could lead to changing the identity of historical areas in Syria, especially with reports of intensive property purchases in the targeted areas.
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