# North Lebanon

North Lebanon (Arabic: شمال لبنان, romanized: Shamal Lubnan) is the northern region of Lebanon comprising the North Governorate and Akkar Governorate. On 16 July 2003, the two entities were divided from the same province by former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The division was known as Law 522.
The main cities and towns of the region are Halba, Tripoli, Miniyeh, Zgharta, Bcharreh, Amioun and Batroun. The districts of Akkar, Tripoli and Miniyeh-Danniyeh are known for their large Sunni Muslim population while the districts of Zgharta, Bcharreh, Koura and Batroun are known for their large Christian population.

## Education

One of the best schools in Lebanon, International School - Al Koura, is in North Lebanon.
The University of Balamand (UOB) is in North Lebanon. UOB was ranked second-best university in Lebanon according to QS University Rankings 2023.
The most modern public Lebanese University campus is the North Campus.

## History
### French occupation
#### Tripoli Massacre

On 13 November 1943, a tragic incident took place in Tripoli, resulting in the loss of lives of 14 students, all under the age of 15. The students were struck by French tanks driven by Senegalese soldiers while participating in a peaceful march through the streets. During the demonstration, the students were fervently advocating for an end to the occupation. The massacre contributed to accelerating the declaration of Lebanon’s independence.

#### Background

One day before the massacre, the French occupation army arrested Abdul Hamid Karami and imprisoned him in the Rashaya Citadel.

### Governorate Creation

On 12 June 1959, North Lebanon Governorate was created which separated Koura, Zgharta, Bcharreh and Batroun from Mount Lebanon.
Districts that formed North Lebanon:

#### 1959-1993

* Districts
* Akkar
* Tripoli
* Koura
* Zgharta
* Bcharreh
* Batroun

#### 1993-2003

On 23 November 1993, Minyeh and Danniyeh were separated from Tripoli and established their own district in North Lebanon.

#### 2003-present

On 16 July 2003, Akkar was separated from North Lebanon due to the presence of government departments in the city of Tripoli which forced the citizens of Akkar to come from long distances in order to finish their government transactions.

### Syrian occupation
#### Killings and massacres

On 12 February 1978, Syrian special units (Arabic: الوحدات الخاصة السورية) attacked the northern village of Qnat, where they killed 15 Lebanese Forces fighters, the battle is known as battle of Qnat.
On 9 February 1986, Syrian Military Intelligence killed Tawhid leader Khalil Akkawi because he refused to fight the Lebanese Forces. Three supporters of Akkawi's Islamic Tawheed, or Islamic Unification Movement, were slain in gunfights with Syrian troopers after his burial, police reported.
Former Syrian minister of interior Mohammad al-Shaar participated in the 1986 Bab al-Tabbaneh massacre. In the 1980s, al-Shaar was a top intelligence official in northern Lebanon when Syrian troops stormed Tripoli and crushed a Sunni group that supported Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasser Arafat.

#### Torture and detention

The Syrian military intelligence (المخابرات السورية) set up a torture prison inside the Evangelical School in Jabal Mohsen, the prison was called "American Prison" (معتقل الاميركان).

### 2021 Akkar Explosion

On 15 August 2021, 28 people were killed and 79 injured when a fuel tank exploded in Akkar in North Lebanon.

### 2024 Aitou Airstrike

On 15 October 2024, Israel killed at least 21 in strike on Christian town in North Lebanon.

## Electoral District
### 2000

In the 2000 Lebanese general election, North Lebanon was divided in two electoral districts: Akkar-Danniyeh-Bcharreh and Tripoli-Miniyeh-Zgharta-Koura-Batroun. Those division were made by Ghazi Kanaan and Rafik Hariri to ensure that the Sunni majority would take away the true Christian opposition representation, however Nayla Moawad still managed to win.

### 2005

In the 2005 Lebanese general election, the March 14 alliance that was formed between Nayla Moawad, Boutros Harb, Kataeb, Lebanese Forces and Saad Hariri after the Cedar Revolution won all the seats in North Lebanon.

### 2009

In the 2009 Lebanese general election, North Lebanon was divided into 7 electoral districts: Akkar, Minniyeh-Danniyeh, Tripoli, Zgharta, Bcharreh, Koura and Batroun.
The March 14 Alliance won in 6 out of 7 electoral districts, the only electoral district they lost in was Zgharta which was won by the March 8 Alliance.

### 2018 and 2022

In the 2018 and 2022 Lebanese general election, North Lebanon was divided into 3 electoral districts: North I, North II and North III.
That electoral law was crafted to favor Gebran Bassil so he could finally win a seat after losing in 2005 and 2009.

## Demographics

The following only includes numbers of northern Lebanese that are at least 21 years old and eligible to vote.

### North I

| Religion | Akkar |
| Sunni | 213152 |
| Orthodox | 42904 |
| Maronite | 31718 |
| Alawite | 15797 |
| Shia | 3240 |
| Catholic | 1861 |
| Evangelical | 777 |
| Armenian Catholic | 31 |
| Armenian Orthodox | 26 |
| Minorities | 11 |
| Total | 309517 |

### North II

| Religion | Tripoli | Minyeh | Danniyeh |
| Sunni | 209594 | 44166 | 61443 |
| Alawite | 21962 | | |
| Orthodox | 12718 | 3500 | 5756 |
| Maronite | 4300 | 339 | 7428 |
| Armenian Orthodox | 1712 | | |
| Catholic | 1170 | | |
| Minorities | 1077 | | |
| Shia | 963 | 3 | 38 |
| Evangelical | 546 | | |
| Armenian Catholic | 376 | | |
| Druze | 20 | | |
| Total | 254438 | 48008 | 74665 |

### North III

| Religion | Batroun | Koura | Zgharta | Bcharreh |
| Maronite | 45928 | 11914 | 66536 | 50556 |
| Orthodox | 9667 | 39236 | 3394 | 230 |
| Sunni | 3974 | 9350 | 11139 | 39 |
| Catholic | 1270 | 182 | 360 | 45 |
| Shia | 1141 | 1250 | 111 | |
| Armenian Orthodox | 179 | 53 | 118 | 24 |
| Minorities | 166 | 53 | | |
| Armenian Catholic | 60 | | 163 | |
| Alawite | 46 | 569 | 63 | |
| Evangelical | 12 | 60 | 74 | |
| Druze | 1 | | 1 | |
| Total | 62444 | 62667 | 82051 | 50894 |

## Notable events

* Battle of Amioun
* Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict
* Chekka massacre
* Ehden massacre
* Battle of Qnat
* 2007 Lebanon conflict
* August 2013 Tripoli bombing
* North Lebanon clashes (2014)
* 2015 Tripoli, Lebanon bombings
* 2021 Akkar explosion