North Lebanon Explained

North Lebanon
Native Name:شمال لبنان
Native Name Lang:ar
Settlement Type:Region
Mapsize:250px
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1959
Population Total:1,230,800
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Lebanon
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:North-Akkar
Timezone:EET
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:EEST
Utc Offset Dst:+3

North Lebanon (Arabic: شمال لبنان|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

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

The charming historical town of Batroun is best known for its beach clubs, nightlife and seafood restaurants, 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.[9]

Hiking

Qurnat as Sawda

See main article: Qurnat as Sawda'. Qurnat as Sawda is the highest point in Lebanon and the Levant.[10]

Mseilha Walkway

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.[11]

Horsh Ehden

See 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.[12]

History

French occupation

Tripoli Massacre

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.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Background

One day before the massacre, the French occupation army arrested Abdul Hamid Karami and imprisoned him in the Rashaya Citadel.[17]

Governorate Creation

On 12 June 1959, North Lebanon Governorate was created which separated Koura, Zgharta, Bcharreh and Batroun from Mount Lebanon.[18]

Districts that formed North Lebanon:

1959-1993

Districts
Akkar
Tripoli
Koura
Zgharta
Bcharreh
Batroun

1993-2003

On 23 November 1993, Minyeh and Danniyeh were separated from Tripoli and established their own district in North Lebanon.[19]

2003-present

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.[20]

Syrian occupation

Killings and massacres

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.[21]

On 9 February 1986, Syrian Military Intelligence killed Tawhid leader Khalil Akkawi because he refused to fight the Lebanese Forces.[22] Three supporters of Akkawi's Islamic Tawheed, or Islamic Unification Movement, were slain in gunfights with Syrian troopers after his burial, police reported.[23]

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.[24]

Torture and detention

The Syrian military intelligence (Arabic: المخابرات السورية) set up a torture prison inside the Evangelical School in Jabal Mohsen, the prison was called "American Prison" (Arabic: معتقل الاميركان).[25]

2021 Akkar explosion

On 15 August 2021, 28 people were killed and 79 injured when a fuel tank exploded in Akkar in North Lebanon.[26]

Electoral District

2000

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.[27]

2005

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.[28]

2009

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.[29]

2018 and 2022

In the 2018 and 2022 Lebanese general election, North Lebanon was divided into 3 electoral districts: North I, North II and North III.[30]

That electoral law was crafted to favor Gebran Bassil so he could finally win a seat after losing in 2005 and 2009.[31]

Demographics

The following only includes numbers of northern Lebanese that are at least 21 years old and eligible to vote.[32]

North I

ReligionAkkar
Sunni213152
Orthodox42904
Maronite31718
Alawite15797
Shia3240
Catholic1861
Evangelical777
Armenian Catholic31
Armenian Orthodox26
Minorities11
Total309517

North II

ReligionTripoliMinyehDanniyeh
Sunni2095944416661443
Alawite21962
Orthodox1271835005756
Maronite43003397428
Armenian Orthodox1712
Catholic1170
Minorities1077
Shia963338
Evangelical546
Armenian Catholic376
Druze20
Total2544384800874665

North III

ReligionBatrounKouraZghartaBcharreh
Maronite45928119146653650556
Orthodox9667 392363394230
Sunni397493501113939
Catholic1270 18236045
Shia11411250111
Armenian Orthodox179 5311824
Minorities16653
Armenian Catholic60 163
Alawite4656963
Evangelical126074
Druze11
Total62444626678205150894

Notable events

Notes and References

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