Arnoun
Encyclopedia
Arnoun is a majority Shia village 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south-east of Nabatiyeh, in Nabatiyeh Governorate, southern
Lebanon
. The village is located approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) from the Israel
i border. The village is approximately 550 metres (1,800 feet) above sea level, and approximately one kilometre (0.62 miles) from the Beaufort Castle
.
The noted academic and commentator Fouad Ajami
was born in Arnoun.
. 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.
i Security Zone
in southern Lebanon
in 1985, Arnoun lay just outside its boundaries, although, from its position at the Beaufort Castle
, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) effectively controlled the village.
On February 17, 1999, after attacks on IDF forces were launched from Arnoun, the village was formally incorporated into the Security Zone
.
On February 26, 1999, thousands of peaceful Lebanese protesters cut through the recently erected barbed wire, effectively freeing the village.
The IDF left Arnoun in May 24th 2000, when it evacuated the Security Zone
.
Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is the geographical area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. These two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s...
Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. The village is located approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) from the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i border. The village is approximately 550 metres (1,800 feet) above sea level, and approximately one kilometre (0.62 miles) from the Beaufort Castle
Beaufort Castle, Lebanon
Beaufort or Belfort The castle was named "bel fort" or "beau fort" by the Crusaders who occupied the castle in the twelfth century. Its Arabic name Qala'at ash-Shqif means Castle of the High Rock...
.
The noted academic and commentator Fouad Ajami
Fouad Ajami
Fouad A. Ajami , is a MacArthur Fellowship winning, Lebanese-born American university professor and writer on Middle Eastern issues. He is currently a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution....
was born in Arnoun.
Ancient History
Arnoun is linked to the nearby Beaufort CastleBeaufort Castle, Lebanon
Beaufort or Belfort The castle was named "bel fort" or "beau fort" by the Crusaders who occupied the castle in the twelfth century. Its Arabic name Qala'at ash-Shqif means Castle of the High Rock...
. The town's name is derived from the Aramaic
Aramaic language
Aramaic is a group of languages belonging to the Afroasiatic language phylum. The name of the language is based on the name of Aram, an ancient region in central Syria. Within this family, Aramaic belongs to the Semitic family, and more specifically, is a part of the Northwest Semitic subfamily,...
arnoun, meaning "little top", referring to the highland where the Beaufort Castle
Beaufort Castle, Lebanon
Beaufort or Belfort The castle was named "bel fort" or "beau fort" by the Crusaders who occupied the castle in the twelfth century. Its Arabic name Qala'at ash-Shqif means Castle of the High Rock...
stands. The castle itself was referred to as Qal'at Shqif Arnoun (Aramaic
Aramaic language
Aramaic is a group of languages belonging to the Afroasiatic language phylum. The name of the language is based on the name of Aram, an ancient region in central Syria. Within this family, Aramaic belongs to the Semitic family, and more specifically, is a part of the Northwest Semitic subfamily,...
: the castle of the high rock on the hill), from which the town took its name.
Modern history
After the establishment of the IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Security Zone
Israeli Security Zone
The Israeli Security Zone in southern Lebanon was a strip of territory of varying width, , from the Israeli border and the Golan Heights, occupied by Israeli forces from 1985 to 2000. Additional regions controlled by the South Lebanon Army are sometimes included under the term...
in southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is the geographical area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. These two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s...
in 1985, Arnoun lay just outside its boundaries, although, from its position at the Beaufort Castle
Beaufort Castle, Lebanon
Beaufort or Belfort The castle was named "bel fort" or "beau fort" by the Crusaders who occupied the castle in the twelfth century. Its Arabic name Qala'at ash-Shqif means Castle of the High Rock...
, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) effectively controlled the village.
On February 17, 1999, after attacks on IDF forces were launched from Arnoun, the village was formally incorporated into the Security Zone
Israeli Security Zone
The Israeli Security Zone in southern Lebanon was a strip of territory of varying width, , from the Israeli border and the Golan Heights, occupied by Israeli forces from 1985 to 2000. Additional regions controlled by the South Lebanon Army are sometimes included under the term...
.
On February 26, 1999, thousands of peaceful Lebanese protesters cut through the recently erected barbed wire, effectively freeing the village.
The IDF left Arnoun in May 24th 2000, when it evacuated the Security Zone
Israeli Security Zone
The Israeli Security Zone in southern Lebanon was a strip of territory of varying width, , from the Israeli border and the Golan Heights, occupied by Israeli forces from 1985 to 2000. Additional regions controlled by the South Lebanon Army are sometimes included under the term...
.