Mhaibib: A Historic Village Wiped Out in Seconds

The occupation forces released a haunting video showing the detonation of Mhaibib, a historic southern village in the Marjaayoun district.

The video captured a massive chain of explosions that reduced the village to rubble. This historic village is home to the ancient shrine of the prophet Benjamin, son of Jacob, which dates back more than 2,100 years.

According to the Association for the Protection of the Lebanese Heritage, the village’s historic shrine dates back over 2,100 years and serves as a religious, cultural, and historical site in Jabal Amel. Its restoration and expansion took place in 2000, preserving its unique character.

This is not the first time we’ve witnessed the blatant destruction of our heritage. The occupation forces also destroyed the Nabatieh souk, along with one of the city’s most beloved historic homes.

The hilltop village borders occupied Palestine, located in the Marjaayoun district. Standing at 700 meters above sea level, about 117 kilometers away from the capital, Mhaibib is the smallest southern village in terms of area, with a population of 1,100.

Bordering this historic village are Mais al-Jabal, Aitaroun, Ainata, Kounine, and Baraachit. Many residents of Mhaibib, like those in other parts of the south, have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to the escalations.

Its residents have long been known for tobacco cultivation and livestock farming. It is said that the village is named Mhaibib in honor of the beloved Benjamin. The name also means ‘the lover, the beloved, and the embracing one’.

In 1948, the occupation stole a stone inscribed with Hebrew carvings from the shrine. Today, the occupation completely demolished the historic site.

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