Khiam
Encyclopedia
'Khiam' is a town located in South Lebanon Governorate, near the city of Nabatieh. It is located in Southern Lebanon
, 750 meters above sea level, 120 km away from Beirut
and roughly four kilometers from the Israel
i border.
The town was the scene of a major confrontation between the Israeli Army and Hezbollah fighters during the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese conflict. It is most known for the prison Khiam Detention Center
which was operated by the South Lebanon Army
and the Israelis during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, and as the site of United Nations post
which was bombed during the 2006 conflict.
and four samples contained low-enriched uranium. In addition, 15 urine samples from Beirut were tested; two
were found to contain low-enriched uranium and one a high level of undepleted uranium.
Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is the geographical area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. These two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s...
, 750 meters above sea level, 120 km away from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and roughly four kilometers from the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i border.
The town was the scene of a major confrontation between the Israeli Army and Hezbollah fighters during the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese conflict. It is most known for the prison Khiam Detention Center
Khiam detention center
The Khiam Detention Center, located near Khiam, Lebanon, was a French barrack complex originally built in the 1930s. It became a base for the Lebanese army before falling under control of the South Lebanon Army and in 1985 was converted into a prison camp...
which was operated by the South Lebanon Army
South Lebanon Army
The South Lebanon Army , also "South Lebanese Army," was a Lebanese militia during the Lebanese Civil War. After 1979, the militia operated in southern Lebanon under the authority of Saad Haddad's Government of Free Lebanon...
and the Israelis during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, and as the site of United Nations post
Attacks on United Nations personnel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, United Nations personnel in Lebanon have come under a number of attacks. On 25 July 2006, four unarmed United Nations Truce Supervision Organization peacekeepers were killed in an Israeli air strike on a UN observation post in southern Lebanon.-UN...
which was bombed during the 2006 conflict.
Uranium contamination as a result of the 2006 Lebanon War
Soil and water samples were collected from Khiam in the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon War. Of 15 samples, two contained high levels of undepleted uraniumUranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
and four samples contained low-enriched uranium. In addition, 15 urine samples from Beirut were tested; two
were found to contain low-enriched uranium and one a high level of undepleted uranium.
External links
- Khiam Official website
- Khiam center
- In focus: Al-Khiyam, BBC profile