Chouf (also spelled Shouf, Shuf or Chuf; ) is a historic region of Lebanon, as well as an administrative district in the governorate (muhafazat) of Mount Lebanon.
Geography Located south-east of Beirut, the region comprises a narrow coastal strip notable for the Christian town of Damour, and the valleys and mountains of the western slopes of Jabal Barouk, the name of the local Mount Lebanon massif, on which the largest forest of Cedars of Lebanon is found. The mountains are high enough to receive snow.
History
The Emirs of Mount Lebanon resided in Chouf, most notably Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II, who attained considerable power and autonomy from the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century. He is often referred to as the founder of modern Lebanon although his area of influence and control included parts of Palestine and Syria. Another emir is Bachir Chehab II, who built the palace of Beiteddine during the first half of the 19th century. Deir al Qamar (the monastery of the Moon) is also in the Chouf region.
The relationship between the Druze and Christians in Chouf was characterized by peaceful coexistence. In the early eighteenth century, the communities lived side by side in relative harmony.
However, in 1848, 1860, and again in 1983-1984, during the Lebanese Civil War (Mountain War, Arabic: Harb el-Jabal), fighting broke out between the Christian and Druze communities in the Chouf.
At the end of January 1989, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who lived at the Jumblatt palace in the town of Moukhtara, came up with a plan to help Christians return to their homes after an estimated 300,000 had fled during the fighting. The initiative was supported by Dany Chamoun. In March the plan was shelved following General Michel Aoun’s blockade of the Druze port at Jieh, his shelling of Souq El Gharb and the assassination of one of Jumblatt’s top aides.Middle East International No 343, 3 February 1989, Publishers Lord Mayhew, Dennis Walters MP; Jim Muir pp.3,4Middle East International No 346, 17 March 1989, Publishers Lord Mayhew, Dennis Walters MP; Jim Muir pp.6,7 Reconciliation between the Druze and Christian communities was achieved on August 8, 2001, when the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir made a historic visit to the Chouf and met with Jumblatt.
In 1989, Israel carried out air-strikes on the Chouf a few yards from a school. Two militants were killed and several schoolchildren were wounded in the attack.jets hit Beirut schoolyard
Demographics According to voter registration in 2014:
Year Christians Muslims Druze Total Maronites Greek Catholics Greek Orthodox Other Christians Total Sunnis Shias Druze2014 2018 2022 2026
Number of registered voters (21+ years old) over the years. +YearsWomenMenTotalGrowth (%)200994,11087,839181,949201094,481 88,610 183,091 +0.62% 201194,622 89,379 184,001 +0.49% 201295,315 90,324 185,639 +0.88% 201397,239 91,900 189,139 +1.85% 201498,423 93,378 191,801 +1.39% 201599,616 94,604 194,220 +1.25% 2016100,701 96,191 196,892 +1.36% 2017102,076 97,489 199,565 +1.34% 2018103,649 98,839 202,488 +1.44% 2019105,002 99,993 204,995 +1.22% 2020106,383 101,181 207,564 +1.24% 2021107,530 102,117 209,647 +0.99% 2022109,006 103,506 212,512 +1.35% 2023109,951 104,125 214,076 +0.73% 2024110,944 105,141 216,085 +0.93% 2025111,950 106,154 218,104 +0.93% 2026 220,478 +1.08% Source: DGCS
Notable residents Antoine Lahad (1927–2015), Lebanese Army Major General, and subsequently leader of the South Lebanon Army
See also Iqlim al-Kharrub, historical region located in the Chouf District
References