Christians unite with Hezbollah against Israel

The Christian residents of Ras Baalbek have forged a deep alliance with Hezbollah for protection against extremist groups like ISIS, prioritizing the militia’s localized defense over traditional ties to the Lebanese state or the Vatican.

In the Catholic village of Ras Baalbek in northern Lebanon, a rare and strategic alliance has formed between devout Christian residents and the Shia militant group Hezbollah to defend against the threat of Islamic State (IS) terrorists. Residents like Rifaat Nasrallah, a 60-year-old quarryman, credit the Iranian-backed group with providing essential services including electricity generators and medical care and physically defending their Byzantine churches during the Syrian civil war. Reflecting on the group’s support compared to the international community, Nasrallah stated, “The Vatican did nothing for us when ISIS attacked [previously] but Hezbollah spilt their blood to protect us. The Pope only has prayers.”

This bond, described as a product of regional realpolitik, has deepened as Israeli airstrikes target Hezbollah positions across the Bekaa Valley following the outbreak of the Iran war. Despite the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accusing Hezbollah of exploiting Christian populations as human shields, the villagers of Ras Baalbek maintain that the militia is their primary line of defense against Salafist extremists. Nasrallah, who keeps a portrait of the late Hassan Nasrallah alongside a crucifix in his home, dismissed fears that this affiliation invites Israeli aggression, insisting, “The relationship between the village and Hezbollah is stronger than with the Pope.”

The village’s anxieties have been further heightened by the rise of Ahmed al-Sharaa as the new president of Syria, whose history with al-Qaeda affiliates has residents bracing for renewed cross-border assaults. While the Lebanese army has taken a more active role in border security since 2017, the historical memory of Hezbollah’s immediate intervention remains the dominant political force in the town. Looking toward a future of continued regional instability, Nasrallah echoed the rhetoric of the late Hezbollah leader, noting, “Nasrallah used to say the war would be hard and would be long, but in the end, there will be victory. In the end, good will prevail.”

READ MORE AT TELEGRAPH