Al-Qlayaa
Municipality in Nabatieh Governorate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Al-Qlayaa (Arabic: القليعة) is a municipality in the Marjayoun District in southern Lebanon. The inhabitants are mainly Maronite Christians.
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Al-Qlayaa
القليعة | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
Al-Qlayaa | |
  Al-Qlayaa Location within Lebanon | |
| Coordinates: 33°19′45″N 35°33′57″E | |
| Grid position | 133/155 L |
| Country |  Lebanon |
| Governorate | Nabatieh Governorate |
| District | Marjayoun District |
| Elevation | 660 m (2,170 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Dialing code | +961 |
Etymology
According to E. H. Palmer, the name means "the little castle".[1]
Geography
The village sits on a ridge at an elevation estimated between 650 and 700 meters (2,130–2,300 ft) above sea level.[4][5][6] Its position places it within the hilly landscape of the Upper Galilee region, an area characterized by rolling highlands and valleys typical of southern Lebanese terrain.[2] Al-Qlaiaah lies around 4.5 kilometers southwest of the town of Marjayoun and approximately four kilometers from the Israeli border. Its elevated position offers broad views over the Litani River valley to the west.
History
In 1838, Eli Smith noted Al-Qlayaa's population as Maronite.[3]
In 1870 Victor Guérin found the village to have 400 Maronite inhabitants.[4]
In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village, built of stone, containing about 150 Christians; it contains a church, and is situated on a ridge, with vineyards, olives, figs, and arable land around; it has a birket and spring near."[5] Note that a birket is a pool of water.
On 9 March 2026, an Israeli tank fired on a house in the village twice, killing the parish priest, Pierre al-Rahi.[6][7]
Demographics
In 2014 Christians made up 98.81% of registered voters in Al-Qlayaa. 92.40% of the voters were Maronite Catholics.[8]
