With the escalation of the ongoing war and intensified Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, predominantly Christian border villages are revisiting one of the most traumatic periods in their modern history: the 1978 Israeli invasion and the security collapse and isolation that preceded it.

As residents now watch developments unfold around their villages, fears are growing of a return to conditions many say once forced them into constrained and reluctant choices shaped by war and the absence of effective state protection.

The “yellow line”— a newly established buffer zone declared by Israel— today separates around 55 border villages from the rest of Lebanon and extends up to 10 kilometers inland. In structure and intent, it echoes the security belt Israel created following its 1978 invasion of southern Lebanon, which it said aimed to protect its northern communities from attacks by the Palestine Liberation Organization. That earlier zone extended roughly 20 kilometers into Lebanese territory and later deepened with the 1982 invasion, which led to Israel’s full occupation of large parts of the south until its withdrawal in 2000.

During that period, residents of villages inside the Israeli-controlled strip were often forced to coordinate with Israeli authorities in order to secure basic services and maintain daily life.

Memories of a fraught era

In Christian border towns such as Qlayaa, Ain Ebel, Rmeish and Debel, residents say memories of that era remain vivid, and many now fear the current conflict could push the region toward a similar trajectory.

One resident of Qlayaa, who requested anonymity, recalled the village’s position during earlier waves of conflict.

“The village was a stronghold of resilience and prevented armed Palestinian factions from entering, while most of the surrounding area fell,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat. “We felt at the time that the state had abandoned us, and some people were pushed to seek protection by any means necessary.”

He argued that what he described as past state leniency toward Palestinian armed groups contributed to the collapse of security in the south, adding that similar fears are resurfacing today amid Hezbollah’s military presence and what he called the state’s inability to assert full authority.

“What our parents lived through in the 1970s, we are living again with our children,” he said. “We have returned to shelters. Fears of isolation, siege, and accusations of collaboration have returned.”

He also pointed to pressure faced by some residents of southern villages who remained in their homes during past fighting and opposed the use of their areas as rocket-launch sites, saying they were subjected to intimidation and accusations of disloyalty.

A more constrained present in Ain Ebel

The mayor of Ain Ebel, Ayoub Khreish, acknowledged that fears of a repeat of past scenarios are widespread, particularly amid what he described as the state’s continued withdrawal from its responsibilities.

“In some respects, the situation today may be more difficult than in the past,” Khreish told Asharq Al-Awsat. “Back then, movement was freer and neighbouring areas were accessible. Today, we are effectively surrounded on the southern side of the town.”

He rejected any suggestion that residents were communicating with Israeli forces, stressing that coordination is limited to the ceasefire monitoring mechanism and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Legal and political fallout

Following Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, many families associated with the former Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army fled into Israel, fearing reprisals. Lebanese political parties, particularly Christian factions, have repeatedly attempted to resolve their legal status, but no comprehensive settlement has been reached.

As parliamentary committees now review a draft general amnesty law, the issue has returned to the forefront of political debate. Some lawmakers are calling for the inclusion of those who fled to Israel, while others oppose it, pointing to existing legislation adopted in 2011 that governs their status.

Legal expert and university professor Dr. Adel Yammine told Asharq Al-Awsat that the law stipulates that Lebanese citizens who were members of the South Lebanon Army and fled to Israeli-controlled territory “are subject to fair trial under Lebanese law upon their return.” It stipulates that they be arrested at the border and transferred to the Lebanese army.

However, the legislation distinguishes between those former combatants and other Lebanese civilians—including spouses and children—who fled after Israel’s 2000 withdrawal. Those individuals are permitted to return under procedures to be defined by implementing regulations.