Al-Wazzani, Marjayoun

Al-Wazzani
الوزاني
Municipality
Country Lebanon
GovernorateNabatieh Governorate
DistrictMarjayoun District
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Al-Wazzani (Al-Ouazzani, also known as Arab al-Louaizeh or Aarab El Louaizeh),[1] is a municipality in the Marjayoun District of the Nabatieh Governorate, on the banks of the Hasbani River. The village is located about 1 km from the Wazzani Spring, a major source of the Hasbani, which is a tributary of the Jordan River.[2] The village has about 200 residents.[1]

History

Modern era

In 2001 the Lebanese government installed a small pumping station with a 10 cm bore near the village, to supply water to the village as well the nearby villages al-Teiba[3] and Ghajar.[4] In March 2002 Lebanon also diverted part of the Hasbani to supply Wazzani village, an action that then Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, said was a "casus belli" and could lead to war.[5][6][7][8] The pumping station was destroyed during the 2006 Lebanon War.

In 2024, a Lebanese soldier was killed by an Israeli drone strike in the village, a day prior to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.[9][10]

Demographics

In 2014 Muslims made up 100% of registered voters in Al-Wazzani. 87.86% of the voters were Sunni Muslims and 12.14% Shiite Muslims.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Water Wars in the Middle East: A Looming Threat, Hussein A. Amery, The Geographical Journal, Vol. 168, 2002
  2. ^ Wazzani Springs pump nearing completion
  3. ^ Hariri complains against Israeli threats: Lebanon seeks to complete al- Wazzani project
  4. ^ LA Times Over Israeli Objections, Lebanon Opens Pumping Station on River 29 March 2001
  5. ^ BBC News 28 March 2002. Lebanon hails 'liberation of water'
  6. ^ BBC 10 September 2002 Israel warns of war over water
  7. ^ BBC 16 September 2002. US wades into Mid-East water dispute
  8. ^ BBC 17 September 2002. Israel hardens stance on water.
  9. ^ "Lebanese army says soldier killed in Israeli drone strike". The Times of Israel. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Israeli ground forces launch targeted raids in south Lebanon". Reuters. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  11. ^ https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/النبطية/مرجعيون/الوزاني/المذاهب/

33°16′38″N 35°37′19″E / 33.27722°N 35.62194°E / 33.27722; 35.62194