Lives on the line: Migration by sea from Lebanon sees sharp decline

Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian

Only a few meters in a narrow alley in Bebnine, Akkar, reveal ongoing stories of hardship linked to illegal migration by sea, where a woman says she has not heard from her husband in two years and an elderly man communicates with his son, detained in Cyprus, only by phone.

The situation reflects the experiences of Syrians and Lebanese affected by illegal migration, a phenomenon that has persisted along Lebanon’s shores since 2019.

However, the same shores that once saw frequent boat departures now show a different trend.
Illegal migration, which peaked in 2022 and 2023 with 214 recorded smuggling attempts, has declined significantly in 2025, reaching about seven attempts.

The Lebanese army intercepted three boats and rescued one boat that was sinking.

The decline has been attributed to intensified operations by the Lebanese army and its intelligence units, which dismantled several smuggling networks and arrested 486 smugglers.

Accounts from individuals who attempted the sea journey — whether they reached their destinations or were detained — have also served as deterrents.

Efforts by the army and intelligence services, along with improving political and economic conditions in Lebanon, changes in Syria’s leadership, and stricter European migration measures, have contributed to the sharp drop in illegal migration from Lebanon.