After violence broke out between the current and past regimes in Syria, fearful residents have waded across a river to take refuge in Lebanon.

Fearing for their lives, Syrian men, women and children waded through a river to safety in Lebanon, among hundreds of people who have fled to the neighbouring country to escape sectarian killing targeting their Alawite community.

Ten thousand members of the Alawite minority escaping sectarian violence in Syria have crossed into Lebanon over the past five days and settled in northern towns and areas, heightening tension and rekindling past conflicts,

Lebanon to escape the worst spasm of violence since Assad’s fall in November. Nabih Bulos is the Middle East bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times. Since 2012, he has covered the aftermath of the “Arab Spring” revolution as well as the Islamic State’s resurgence and the campaign to defeat it.