ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The number of Lebanese refugees that have entered Iraq since the intensification of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in their country has exceeded 36,000, the interior ministry said on Sunday.
“48,341 Lebanese nationals entered Iraq through airports and border crossings from September 20 to November 3. 11,444 of them have returned and 36,897 remain in Iraq,” Iraqi interior ministry spokesperson Miqdad Miri told Rudaw.
The majority of the Lebanese refugees have entered Iraq through airports while some of them have crossed into the country by land, according to Miri. The bulk of the refugees are staying in Karbala, followed by Baghdad and Najaf.
In addition to the Iraqi government, the Shiite religious authorities in Karbala and Najaf have also expedited efforts to welcome Lebanese refugees.
Israel in September expanded its conflict with Lebanon’s pro-Iran Hezbollah group with intensified airstrikes followed by a limited ground invasion into the country, in order to allow tens of thousands of Israelis displaced from the north by Hezbollah’s constant rocket and drone strikes to return to their homes.
Iraqi militia groups loyal to Iran have also launched drone strikes at Israel, raising concerns that Iraq could be dragged into the war - something Iraqi officials have repeatedly stressed they want to avoid.
During a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani highlighted the need “to work towards ending wars in the region,” referring to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
On Monday, the Lebanese health ministry said that 3,002 people have been killed in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, and at least 13,492 have been injured.
Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
