Yanouh (Arabic: يانوح, romanized: Yānūḥ) is a municipality in the Tyre District of the South Governorate in Lebanon. It is situated approximately 12 kilometers inland from the coastal city of Tyre, on a hilltop amid agricultural lands featuring fig, olive, and pomegranate orchards.
Geography and Administration
The village is located at coordinates 33°15′34″N 35°18′16″E, at an elevation of approximately 210 meters (690 feet) above sea level. It operates under the GMT+3 time zone. Yanouh is part of the Union of Tyre Municipalities, a grouping of local administrative bodies in the Tyre District.
Etymology
According to E. H. Palmer in his 1881 work for the Palestine Exploration Fund, the name Yânûh is one of two possible candidates for the biblical "Yanoah." The other possible location is a site referred to as Yanuh on the Survey of Western Palestine map.
History
In 1881, the Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described Yanouh as "a village built of stone, containing 150 Metawileh, on a hill-top, surrounded by figs, olives, and pomegranates, and arable land. A spring and cisterns are found here." The term "Metawileh" refers to the local Shiite Muslim population of the region.
Demographics
According to 2014 voter registration data, Muslims made up 99.28% of registered voters in Yanouh, with Shiite Muslims constituting 98.66% of all registered voters.
Recent Events
Yanouh has been the site of reported military incidents in the context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. News reports have documented Israeli airstrikes and drone strikes targeting vehicles in the town, resulting in civilian casualties, including children. The Israel Defense Forces have stated that some strikes in the area targeted Hezbollah operatives. These events have been reported by multiple news outlets, including the Times of Israel, Al-Manar, and the Palestine Chronicle.
Note on Distinction
Yanouh in the Tyre District should not be confused with the Sanctuary of Yanouh, a historic temple complex located in a different village of the same name in Lebanon's Byblos hinterland (Jbeil District). The two locations are distinct and geographically separate.
