Maroun al-Ras

Maroun al-Rass مارون الراس
Village
Maroun al-Rass Location within Lebanon
Coordinates:
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Nabatieh Governorate
District	Bint Jbeil District
Elevation	911 m (2,989 ft)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Dialing code	+961

Maroun al-Ras (Arabic: مارون الراس‎‎) is a Lebanese village nestled in Jabal Amel (Mount Amel) in the district of Bint Jbeil in the Nabatiye Governorate in southern Lebanon. It is located around 120 km (75 mi) south east of Beirut, roughly one km (0.62 mi) from the Israeli border.

Military history

Lebanese Civil War

On March 1, 1978 the village was occupied by a force of 60 phalangists, drawn from the villages around Ain Ebl, at the behest of the Israeli military and led to believe by Israeli advisors that they would be welcomed with open arms by the inhabitants. The population in Maroun al-Ras being shia Muslims, however immediately called on help from Fatah and their Lebanese allies. The phalangists had received vague promises of air support from Israel should they be met with resistance, which they never received. Seven phalangists were killed when the Palestinians arrived and the rest of the phalangists had to flee. Following this episode the Israelis deployed a group of soldiers to protect Ain Ebl against reprisal attacks, and they remained there until Israel's invasion of Lebanon two weeks later.

2006 Lebanon War

Main article: Battle of Maroun al-Ras

The village was the scene of a major confrontation between the Israeli Army and Hezbollah fighters during the 2006 Lebanon War.

Maroun al-Ras is strategically important as it overlooks the surrounding towns. The village's elevation is 911 meters (2,989 feet).

During the Battle of Maroun al-Ras of the 2006 Lebanon War, the village was occupied by Israel, which claimed it was a stronghold for Hezbollah and one of the launching points for rocket attacks on northern Israel.

There are reports that control of the village was contested at the time of the ceasefire. After-battle reports claimed the IDF troops never fully secured the border area and that Maroun al-Ras was never fully taken.