War Information
10 sectionsWar History of Nabatieh
Ottoman Period and the Great Famine
Nabatieh, located in the Jabal Amel region of southern Lebanon, has long been a theater of conflict and resistance. During the Ottoman Empire (1516-1918), the region was known for tobacco cultivation. In 1883, the Ottoman Empire granted the tobacco concession to a consortium of Austrian, German, and French interests, angering local farmers. During World War I (1914-1918), the Ottoman-led Great Famine of Lebanon killed thousands in the Nabatieh region.
French Mandate and Resistance
After World War I, France seized Ottoman Syria and carved out Greater Lebanon with a Christian majority, attaching the predominantly Shia south to the newly created state. In the 1920s, Shia resistance fighters attacked French installations in southern Lebanon. In 1936, the people of Bint Jbeil rose up against the Tobacco Monopoly inherited by France from the Ottomans.
1948: Palestinian Nakba and Displacement
In 1948, Zionist forces ethnically cleansed Palestine and also seized seven Shia villages in southern Lebanon, expelling their inhabitants. The establishment of Israel cut off southern Lebanon's overland trade routes to Palestine and Egypt. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians became refugees in camps across southern Lebanon, including the Nabatieh area.
1978: Operation Litani
In March 1978, Israel launched its first full-scale invasion of Lebanon, Operation Litani. Nabatieh was heavily bombarded. According to the New York Times, "Hardly a house [was] left intact" and of the city's 40,000 residents, only 25-30 families remained. The invasion prompted UN Security Council Resolution 425 demanding immediate Israeli withdrawal.
1982: Second Israeli Invasion
On June 6, 1982, Israel launched its second major invasion of Lebanon. Occupying forces seized southern Lebanon including the Nabatieh region. Nabatieh fell under direct Israeli military occupation. During this period, popular resistance led by Shia clerics began to organize.
1983: Ashura Incident — A Turning Point
In October 1983, an Israeli military convoy drove into Nabatieh at the height of Ashura ceremonies. In the ensuing confrontation, one person was killed and several wounded. This incident, along with the assassination of Sheikh Ragheb Harb on February 16, 1984, marked a turning point in the Shia community's relationship with the Israeli occupiers. Sheikh Ragheb Harb, a prominent Shia cleric from Jibsheet village in the Nabatieh district, was assassinated by Israeli agents for leading the resistance against occupation.
1985-2000: Years of Resistance and Liberation
After Israel's partial withdrawal to the security zone in 1985, Nabatieh sat on the edge of the occupied area. Israeli and SLA air strikes and shelling repeatedly targeted Nabatieh. On August 24, 1989, IAF jets struck Ain Abu Suwar near Nabatieh, killing nine. In December 1989, the SLA shelled Nabatieh for three days, killing 4 and wounding 18. The Islamic Resistance led by Hezbollah ultimately achieved the liberation of South Lebanon in 2000, ending 18 years of occupation.
2006: The 33-Day War
In the summer of 2006, Israel launched the 33-Day War against Lebanon. The Nabatieh region and the Beqaa Valley were subjected to widespread aerial bombardment. The city's infrastructure, including roads and bridges, was destroyed. Hezbollah's resistance achieved a strategic victory despite Israel's military superiority, forcing the Israeli military to withdraw.
2024-2026: Recent Wars and Destruction
In 2024, Israel launched a new war against Lebanon. Nabatieh was struck 65 times by Israeli bombardment. The municipal headquarters was destroyed, killing the mayor and 13 others. The city's historic market, with its centuries-old tradition, was completely obliterated. According to reports, of Nabatieh's 90,000 residents, only 200 families remained by the end of the war. In 2026, a fresh wave of Israeli attacks again targeted Nabatieh. A 10-day truce was established in April 2026, but returning residents faced widespread destruction and an uncertain future. The Islamic Resistance remains the primary deterrent against Israeli aggression.
