The crisis in southern Lebanon has turned the border into a war zone once again following the escalation of the Middle East conflict in late February 2026. In this context of increased violence, Fr. Maroun Youssef Ghafari, the Maronite parish priest of Alma Sha’b, has decided to stay with his community despite the extreme danger and the loss of his brother in an airstrike.
The heavy price of the crisis in southern Lebanon
Fr. Ghafari’s resolve was dramatically tested on March 8, when his 70-year-old brother, Sami Ghafari, was killed in the garden of his home in Alma Sha’b. The following day, on March 9, another Maronite priest, Fr. Pierre al-Raï of Qlayaa, was also killed in an airstrike while serving his parish.
The priest expressed his deep sorrow to the pontifical foundation ACN:
«To lose a Lebanese citizen who loved his village of Alma Sha’b and who was totally unrelated to the conflict and who, what is more, was my brother, has left us in the deepest sadness. War causes nothing but destruction, death and displacement».
An act of faith and perseverance
Despite intensification of fighting and evacuation orders, approximately 100 residents of Alma Sha’b have chosen to remain, fearing that their property and fields will be destroyed if abandoned—a fear rooted in late 2024 when 90% of the village’s houses were destroyed. For Fr. Ghafari, staying is an act of faith:
«We trust in divine providence and in the intercession of the Virgin Mary, our protector (…). Through their attachment to their sacred land, they offer the most beautiful witness of faithfulness and perseverance».
Although the community had previously informed the UNIFIL and civil authorities of their intent to stay, the latest reports confirm that Alma Sha’b is expected to be evacuated as the security situation continues to deteriorate. Fr. Ghafari expressed his gratitude to ACN for providing essential food, medicine, and material aid during this disaster.
