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North Lebanon

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For the place in the United States, see North Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania.
North Lebanon
شمال لبنان
Region
Map of Lebanon with North Lebanon highlighted
Map of Lebanon with North Lebanon highlighted
CountryLebanon
RegionNorth-Akkar
Incorporated1959
Population
 • Total1,230,800
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

North Lebanon (Arabic: شمال لبنان, romanized: Shamal Lubnan) is the northern region of Lebanon comprising the North Governorate and Akkar Governorate. On 16 July 2003, the two entities were divided from the same province by former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The division was known as Law 522.[1]

The main cities and towns of the region are Halba, Tripoli, Miniyeh, Zgharta, Bcharreh, Amioun and Batroun. The districts of Akkar, Tripoli and Miniyeh-Danniyeh are known for their large Sunni Muslim population[2] while the districts of Zgharta, Bcharreh, Koura and Batroun are known for their large Christian population.[3]

Education

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One of the best schools in Lebanon, International School - Al Koura, is in North Lebanon.[4][5]

The University of Balamand (UOB) is in North Lebanon.[6] UOB was ranked second-best university in Lebanon according to QS University Rankings 2023.[7]

The most modern public Lebanese University campus is the North Campus.[8]

Tourism

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The charming historical town of Batroun is best known for its beach clubs, nightlife and seafood restaurants,[9] while the medieval labyrinthine city of Tripoli is rich in history and architecture from the Mamluk era. At the northernmost tip of Lebanon lies the green Akkar region, with the beautiful lake area of Oyoun es-Samak and the attractive mountain slopes of Jabal Qammouah.[10]

Hiking

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Qurnat as Sawda

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Main article: Qurnat as Sawda'

Qurnat as Sawda is the highest point in Lebanon and the Levant.[11]

Mseilha Walkway

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The Mseilha Walkway (Darb Mseilha) is easily accessible from the Batroun highway, the entrance in next to the Mseilha Fort, a historic monument built by Fakhr al-Din II in the 17th century.[12]

Horsh Ehden

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Main article: Horsh Ehden

Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve is located about three kilometers northwest of the center of Ehden. Visitors coming enjoy hiking, climbing and biking.[13]

History

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French occupation

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Name of the Martyrs

Tripoli Massacre

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On 13 November 1943, a tragic incident took place in Tripoli, resulting in the loss of lives of 14 students, all under the age of 15. The students were struck by French tanks driven by Senegalese soldiers while participating in a peaceful march through the streets. During the demonstration, the students were fervently advocating for an end to the occupation. The massacre contributed to accelerating the declaration of Lebanon’s independence.[14][15][16][17]

Background

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One day before the massacre, the French occupation army arrested Abdul Hamid Karami and imprisoned him in the Rashaya Citadel.[18]

Governorate Creation

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On 12 June 1959, North Lebanon Governorate was created which separated Koura, Zgharta, Bcharreh and Batroun from Mount Lebanon.[19]

Districts that formed North Lebanon:

1959-1993

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Districts
Akkar
Tripoli
Koura
Zgharta
Bcharreh
Batroun

1993-2003

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On 23 November 1993, Minyeh and Danniyeh were separated from Tripoli and established their own district in North Lebanon.[20]

2003-present

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On 16 July 2003, Akkar was separated from North Lebanon due to the presence of government departments in the city of Tripoli which forced the citizens of Akkar to come from long distances in order to finish their government transactions.[21]

Syrian occupation

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Killings and massacres

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On 12 February 1978, Syrian special units (Arabic: الوحدات الخاصة السورية) attacked the northern village of Qnat, where they killed 15 Lebanese Forces fighters, the battle is known as battle of Qnat.[22]

On 9 February 1986, Syrian Military Intelligence killed Tawhid leader Khalil Akkawi because he refused to fight the Lebanese Forces.[23] Three supporters of Akkawi's Islamic Tawheed, or Islamic Unification Movement, were slain in gunfights with Syrian troopers after his burial, police reported.[24]

Former Syrian minister of interior Mohammad al-Shaar participated in the 1986 Bab al-Tabbaneh massacre. In the 1980s, al-Shaar was a top intelligence official in northern Lebanon when Syrian troops stormed Tripoli and crushed a Sunni group that supported Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasser Arafat.[25]

Torture and detention

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The Syrian military intelligence (المخابرات السورية) set up a torture prison inside the Evangelical School in Jabal Mohsen, the prison was called "American Prison" (معتقل الاميركان).[26]

2021 Akkar Explosion

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Main article: 2021 Akkar explosion

On 15 August 2021, 28 people were killed and 79 injured when a fuel tank exploded in Akkar in North Lebanon.[27]

2024 Aitou Massacre

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Main article: October 2024 Aitou airstrike

On 15 October 2024, Israel killed at least 21 in strike on Christian town in North Lebanon.[28]

Electoral District

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2000

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In the 2000 Lebanese general election, North Lebanon was divided in two electoral districts: Akkar-Danniyeh-Bcharreh and Tripoli-Miniyeh-Zgharta-Koura-Batroun. Those division were made by Ghazi Kanaan and Rafik Hariri to ensure that the Sunni majority would take away the true Christian opposition representation, however Nayla Moawad still managed to win.[29]

2005

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In the 2005 Lebanese general election, the March 14 alliance that was formed between Nayla Moawad, Boutros Harb, Kataeb, Lebanese Forces and Saad Hariri after the Cedar Revolution won all the seats in North Lebanon.[30]

2009

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In the 2009 Lebanese general election, North Lebanon was divided into 7 electoral districts: Akkar, Minniyeh-Danniyeh, Tripoli, Zgharta, Bcharreh, Koura and Batroun.

The March 14 Alliance won in 6 out of 7 electoral districts, the only electoral district they lost in was Zgharta which was won by the March 8 Alliance.[31]

2018 and 2022

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In the 2018 and 2022 Lebanese general election, North Lebanon was divided into 3 electoral districts: North I, North II and North III.[32]

That electoral law was crafted to favor Gebran Bassil so he could finally win a seat after losing in 2005 and 2009.[33]

Demographics

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The following only includes numbers of northern Lebanese that are at least 21 years old and eligible to vote.[34]

North I

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Religion Akkar
Sunni 213152
Orthodox 42904
Maronite 31718
Alawite 15797
Shia 3240
Catholic 1861
Evangelical 777
Armenian Catholic 31
Armenian Orthodox 26
Minorities 11
Total 309517

North II

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Religion Tripoli Minyeh Danniyeh
Sunni 209594 44166 61443
Alawite 21962
Orthodox 12718 3500 5756
Maronite 4300 339 7428
Armenian Orthodox 1712
Catholic 1170
Minorities 1077
Shia 963 3 38
Evangelical 546
Armenian Catholic 376
Druze 20
Total 254438 48008 74665

North III

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Religion Batroun Koura Zgharta Bcharreh
Maronite 45928 11914 66536 50556
Orthodox 9667 39236 3394 230
Sunni 3974 9350 11139 39
Catholic 1270 182 360 45
Shia 1141 1250 111
Armenian Orthodox 179 53 118 24
Minorities 166 53
Armenian Catholic 60 163
Alawite 46 569 63
Evangelical 12 60 74
Druze 1 1
Total 62444 62667 82051 50894

Notable events

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References

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  1. ^ "انشاء محافظتين جديدتين في لبنان (محافظة عكار - محافظة بعلبك الهرمل)".
  2. ^ "Tripoli, "The Bride of The Revolution"".
  3. ^ "معركة التوازن المسيحي (بشري، البترون، الكورة، زغرتا)".
  4. ^ "International School - Al Koura".
  5. ^ "List of 77 Best Schools in Lebanon".
  6. ^ "UOB".
  7. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2023".
  8. ^ "Lebanese University North Campus - Tripoli: The new citadel".
  9. ^ Bilyana (2024-02-15). "The 19 Best Things to Do in Batroun, Lebanon • Owl Over The World". Owl Over The World. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  10. ^ "North Lebanon".
  11. ^ "Lebanon – Qurnat as Sawda".
  12. ^ "Everything You Need To Know About The Newest Hiking Hot Spot In Lebanon".
  13. ^ "Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve".
  14. ^ "مجزرة طرابلس في 13 تشرين الثاني 1943ساهمت في تسريع إعلان إستقلال لبنان".
  15. ^ "حين استشهد 14 طالبًا في طرابلس تحت دبابات الفرنسيين".
  16. ^ "مقاربة استقلالية... طرابلس تعيد انتاج وطنيتها".
  17. ^ "شهداء مجزرة الاستقلال في طرابلس… من ينصفهم ومن يخلّد ذكراهم؟".
  18. ^ "هذه قصة شهداء الاستقلال في طرابلس".
  19. ^ "مرسوم إشتراعي رقم 116 - التنظيم الاداري".
  20. ^ "انشاء قضاء المنية - الضنية في محافظة لبنان الشمالي".
  21. ^ "انشاء محافظتين جديدتين في لبنان (محافظة عكار - محافظة بعلبك الهرمل)".
  22. ^ "The Battle of Qnat".
  23. ^ "Rougier, B. (2015). North Lebanon in Bilad al-Sham. In The Sunni Tragedy in the Middle East: Northern Lebanon from al-Qaeda to ISIS (pp. 1–25)".
  24. ^ "Four Killed, Including Syrian, in Tripoli Gunfights".
  25. ^ "Report: Al-Shaar Left Beirut to Avoid Interpol Arrest Warrants".
  26. ^ "جان الحاج يروي قصة عذاباته في السجون السورية".; "حي الأميركان في المدينة المأزومة طرابلس".
  27. ^ "Fuel tanker explodes in Lebanon, killing at least 28".
  28. ^ "Israel kills at least 21 in strike on Christian town in north Lebanon". Reuteurs. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  29. ^ "في العام ٢٠٠٠... قانون غازي كنعان".
  30. ^ "المجلس النيابي لانتخابات 2005".
  31. ^ "نتائج الانتخابات لكل الاقلام في جميع الدوائر الانتخابية".
  32. ^ "مجموع أصوات المرشحين بحسب الدوائر لعام 2018".
  33. ^ "دائرة الشمال الثالثة".
  34. ^ "بالأرقام .. الانتخابات النيابية اللبنانية".
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