Arnoun

Arnoun
أرنون
Municipality
Map showing the location of Arnoun within Lebanon
Map showing the location of Arnoun within Lebanon
Arnoun
Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 33°20′0″N 35°32′0″E / 33.33333°N 35.53333°E / 33.33333; 35.53333
Grid position130/155 L
Country Lebanon
GovernorateNabatieh Governorate
DistrictNabatieh District
Elevation
550 m (1,800 ft)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code+961

Arnoun (Arabic: أرنون, romanized: ʾArnūn, Syriac-Aramaic: ܐܪܢܘܢ) is a municipality 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south-east of Nabatieh, in Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon. The village is located approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the Israeli border. The village is approximately 550 metres (1,800 feet) above sea level, and approximately one kilometre (0.62 miles) from the Beaufort Castle.

History

Arnoun is linked to the nearby Beaufort Castle. The town's name is derived from the Aramaic arnoun, meaning "little top", referring to the highland where the Beaufort Castle stands. The castle itself was referred to as Qal'at Shqif Arnoun (Aramaic: the castle of the high rock on the hill), from which the town took its name.

In 1875 Victor Guérin noted that it contained one hundred "Metualis".

Modern era

After the establishment of the Israeli Security Zone in southern Lebanon in 1985, Arnoun lay just outside its boundaries, although, from its position at the Beaufort Castle, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) effectively controlled the village.

Israeli security zone, 1999–2000

Most of Arnoun's roughly 2,000 residents left in November 1998 as Hezbollah activity increased, and the IDF demolished around 22 houses in the village over the following months.[citation needed] On 17 February 1999, Israeli troops fenced off Arnoun and laid minefields around it,[citation needed] saying this was meant to curb Hezbollah guerrilla infiltration. About 35 residents remained with limited access.[citation needed] Israel maintained the village was already inside the security zone, not newly annexed. Hezbollah then killed a South Lebanon Army (SLA) militiaman in Jezzine and, on 22/23 February, three IDF officers in an ambush.

On 28 February, around 2,000 students and local demonstrators broke through the fence, and bulldozers reopened access the next day. The IDF held off retaking Arnoun despite its position over the supply road to the Israeli military position at Beaufort Castle. On the night of 15 April, Israeli forces re-entered and refenced the village, installing an SLA checkpoint at the entrance. Troops opened fire on approaching journalists the next day, wounding one. The IDF withdrew from Arnoun on 24 May 2000 as part of its broader pullout from southern Lebanon.

Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)

During the ongoing Hezbollah–Israel conflict, Arnoun has been subject to several attacks. On 16 November 2024, six people were injured in a drone attack.

Demographics

In 2014 Muslims made up 99.30% of registered voters in Arnoun. 97.93% of the voters were Shiite Muslims.

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 "Regional Promenade Brochures - Al-Nabatieh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2006-09-07.
  2. ↑ Guérin 1880, p. 521
  3. 1 2 "Israeli jets attack, troops seize village in south Lebanon", CNN, April 16, 1999 (accessed September 6, 2006)
  4. ↑ Middle East International No 594, 26 February 1999; Michael Jansen p.12
  5. ↑ Middle East International No 595, 13 March 1999; Michael Jansen pp.7-8
  6. ↑ Middle East International No 596, 26 March 1999; Michael Jansen p.9
  7. ↑ Middle East International No 598, 23 April 1999; Michael Jansen pp.14-16
  8. ↑ "Civilians killed, neighborhoods destroyed in fresh Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, Tyre". Arab News. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
  9. ↑ "التوزيع حسب المذاهب للناخبين/ناخبات في بلدة ارنون، قضاء النبطية محافظة النبطية في لبنان".
  10. ↑ "The Native Informant", Adam Schatz, The Nation, April 28, 2003 Archived September 19, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (accessed August 23, 2016)

Bibliography