Inside the Christian border town in Lebanon that survived by defying Hezbollah

(SeaPRwire) –   The church bells still toll in Rmeish, a village on the Lebanon-Israel border.

While much of southern Lebanon has endured devastation amid the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, Rmeish—a predominantly Christian town near the frontier—remains largely unscathed. Its churches still stand, homes remain undamaged, and residents attribute their safety to their refusal to let Hezbollah operate within the village.

“There were multiple attempts by Hezbollah fighters to approach the village’s outskirts or entrance to launch rockets,” one resident told Jusoor News. “The young men of Rmeish confronted them and blocked their entry.”

“That ensured Rmeish was spared from Israeli strikes,” the resident added. “The Israelis don’t attack indiscriminately—they target rocket launch sites.”

The account provides a rare public look at open defiance of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where dissent against the Iran-backed group is often silenced with accusations of treason or collaboration with Israel.

Tarek, a Christian activist from Rmeish who spoke with Digital by phone, said the town has long faced pressure for refusing to align with Hezbollah.

“Since 2000, after Israel withdrew, we’ve constantly been labeled as Israeli collaborators,” Tarek said. “We’ve endured immense hardship because of that stigma.”

He noted that Hezbollah supporters accused the village of working with Israel simply because it avoided the destruction seen in nearby communities.

The interviews come as the Trump administration facilitates negotiations between Israel and Lebanon aimed at stabilizing the border and curbing Hezbollah’s military activities in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem recently dismissed any possibility of disarming, even as U.S. officials continue efforts to bolster the Lebanese state at the expense of the armed group.

Tarek argued that Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon is inseparable from Iran’s.

“Hezbollah has effectively controlled the Lebanese government for nearly 36 years,” he told Digital. “It’s deeply embedded in every branch—government, security, military, and state institutions.”

“Even if the president or prime minister calls for peace, Hezbollah will oppose it,” he said.

According to Tarek, weakening Iran is essential to weakening Hezbollah.

“It’s about cutting off the head of the octopus—the Iranian regime,” he explained. “Once that’s done, Hezbollah can no longer function.”

Another resident said many in Rmeish now believe “Hezbollah’s agenda is an Iranian project, not a Lebanese one.”

A local woman described living in constant tension, surrounded by conflict yet striving to keep her town out of the fighting.

“We’re caught in the middle, with war closing in from all sides,” she said. “It leaves us in a state of fear, anxiety, insecurity, and instability.”

A man from the village said residents have suffered through decades of wars they never chose.

“We’ve chosen to stay strong,” he said. “Where else could we go?”

An elderly resident recalled his family enduring border violence since the 1970s.

“We’re exhausted by war,” he said. “All we want is peace.”

Despite backlash from Hezbollah supporters, residents maintain they do not regret resisting the group.

“We reject all accusations of treason,” one resident stated. “The people of Rmeish simply want to live safely on their land.”

Another added: “Just because I don’t support your cause doesn’t make me a traitor.”

Ahed Al Hendi, a senior fellow at the Center for Peace Communications, told Digital that “the resistance shown by Christians in southern Lebanon signals a significant shift in the country’s internal dynamics. For over twenty years, many border-dwelling Christians lived under Hezbollah’s dominance, often stigmatized and afraid to speak out.”

“Now,” Al Hendi continued, “as the balance of power changes, they are increasingly challenging Hezbollah openly and speaking against what they view as its oppression.”