town, southern Lebanon. It is the major centre of tobacco growing in Lebanon. Other agricultural products are grapes, olives, figs, and grains. Most of the inhabitants of the town are Shīʿite Muslims. A main road crosses the region connecting Al-Nabaṭiyyah al-Taḥtā to Sidon via the road along the Mediterranean Coast, to Marj ʿUyūn, and southeastward to the Israeli border and the Al-Qunayṭirah muḥāfaẓah of Syria. The surrounding region includes the southern ranges of the Lebanon Mountains that descend southward toward the hills of Galilee. Pop. (latest est.) 100,000.