Al-Rafid, Lebanon

{{About| the Lebanese town | |Rafid (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Al-Rafid | other_name = Al-Rafeed | native_name = الرفيد | native_name_lang = ar  | settlement_type = | image_skyline = alrafid1.jpg | image_caption = View of the northeastern part of al-Rafid | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_shield = | nickname = | pushpin_map = Lebanon | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Lebanon | coordinates = {{coord|33|34|16|N|35|49|1|E|region:LB|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint = | subdivision_type = {{Country|Lebanon}} | subdivision_name = Lebanon | subdivision_type1 = Governorate | subdivision_name1 = Beqaa | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Rashaya | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name = | unit_pref = Metric   | area_footnotes = | area_urban_footnotes =  | area_rural_footnotes =  | area_metro_footnotes =  | area_magnitude =  | area_note = | area_water_percent = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank2_title =  | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_urban_km2 = | area_rural_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank2_km2 =  | area_total_ha = | area_land_ha = | area_water_ha = | area_urban_ha = | area_rural_ha = | area_metro_ha = | area_blank1_ha = | area_blank2_ha = | length_km = | width_km = | dimensions_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 3,000 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Al-Rafid''' ({{langx|ar|الرفيد|ar-Rafīd}}) is a village in the Rashaya District, in the southeastern area of the Beqaa Governorate in Lebanon. Its population is estimated to be 3,000. Its inhabitants are predominantly Sunni Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=التوزيع حسب المذاهب للناخبين/ناخبات في بلدة الرفيد، قضاء راشيا محافظة البقاع في لبنان |url=https://lub-anan.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=إعْرَفْ لبنان |language=en}}</ref> The village has two mosques, two schools, two pharmacies, and a telecommunications facility.

==Geography== The oldest part of the village lies halfway up Mount Baaloul (Jabal Baaloul) on the eastern slope. It is widely accepted by the inhabitants of the town that the town was originally located on the top of the mountain but was re-located after a civil strife had subsided over 400 years ago. Neighboring localities include Bire, Mhaydseh, Kherbet Rouha, and Mdoukha. The town is located about {{Convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Beirut and {{Convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Damascus, Syria.

==History== In 1838, Eli Smith noted Al-Rafid,'s population as being predominantly Sunni Muslim.<ref>Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearch03robiuoft#page/141/mode/1up 141]</ref>

The village was occupied first by PLO forces in the late 1970s Inhabited by the PFLP, then by Israeli forces in the early 1980s.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}At least three people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes on the village, one on 30 September 2024, one on 5 October 2024, and one on 22 May 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel continues to bombard Lebanon, killing at least one |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-strikes-continue-pound-lebanon-killing-least-one |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Yemeni doctor and his mother were martyred in an Israeli raid on Lebanon |url=https://yemenshabab.net/en/sections/NEWS/Political/4737a5ee-8311-11ef-977c-222c43b9907f |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=يمن شباب نت |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2024 |title=Israeli incursion in South Lebanon; first strike on Ain el-Hilweh camp: Day 360 of the Gaza and Lebanon wars |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1429193/head-of-hamas-in-lebanon-killed-in-israeli-raid-on-palestinian-refugee-camp-in-sour-following-first-strike-within-beirut-city-limits-day-360-of-the-ga.html |access-date=22 November 2024 |website=L'Orient Today}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |title=Israel attacks southern Lebanon and near Syrian border despite ‘ceasefire’ |work=Al Jazeera |date=2026-05-23 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/23/israel-attacks-southern-lebanon-and-near-syrian-border-despite-ceasefire |access-date=2026-05-23 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|last1=Robinson|first1=E.|authorlink1=Edward Robinson (scholar)|last2=Smith|first2=E.|authorlink2=Eli Smith|year=1841|url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearch03robiuoft |title=Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838| location=Boston|publisher=Crocker & Brewster|volume=3}} {{refend}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180418213624/http://www.localiban.org/article4584.html Rafid], Localiban {{Rashaya District}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafid}} Rafid Category:Sunni Muslim communities in Lebanon