Lebanon’s government is squeezing out Syrian refugees

vehicles drew up outside Umm Mohammad’s home in Lebanon’s foothills just before dawn. Soldiers searched the house before checking the Syrian family’s papers. Three of her sons’ residence permits had lapsed because the authorities are not renewing them these days. The young men were taken to the border and handed over to the Syrian army. They ended up in Aleppo. The older two were given ten days to report for army duty.Relief workers have counted more than 60 such raids since the middle of April. There were just 11 during the whole of last year. The expulsions—which Amnesty International says are a violation of international law—are part of a wider crackdown by the Lebanese government on Syrian refugees. Last week it directed local security forces to “apply the law”. Parties across the political spectrum have backed the government’s efforts, as have local television stations. Syrians in Lebanon have faced a torrent of abuse on social media.