Tyre District

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Tyre District, Lebanon

The Tyre District is in the South Governorate of Lebanon. It includes 72 municipalities, and the capital city is Tyre. The district covers about 159.9 square miles (414.1 square kilometers). Its population was around 270,500 people in 2017. The time zone is UTC+2, and in summer it uses UTC+3.

A long history in a small coast city
- Ancient Phoenician Tyre: Tyre started as a mainland city with a nearby island. It grew into a major trading port and, around 815 BC, helped found Carthage in North Africa.
- Civilizations and sieges: The city faced a long siege by Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BC. Residents moved to the island, and Tyre later came under Babylonian rule.
- Alexander the Great: In 332 BC, Alexander blockaded Tyre and then used a land bridge to reach the walls, destroying much of the mainland. Many Tyrians were killed or sold as slaves.
- Roman era: In 64 BC Tyre became part of the Roman world. Romans built big monuments, including an aqueduct, a triumphal arch, and a huge hippodrome.
- Christian and Byzantine periods: Tyre appeared in Christian history and remained important, with bishops and tombs from ancient times.
- Islamic and medieval times: The city surrendered to Islamic forces in 634 and continued to prosper, trading sugar, pearl, and glass. It later enjoyed periods of local rule under the Fatimids and other dynasties.
- Crusaders and after: The Crusaders captured Tyre in 1124, and Mamluks retook it in 1291. The Ottoman Empire later controlled the city from the 1500s.
- Modern era start: After World War I, Tyre became part of the French Mandate and then Greater Lebanon in 1920. In the 1930s, Armenian refugees settled nearby in El Buss, and archaeological digs began to uncover Tyre’s history.

Lebanon in the 20th and 21st centuries
- Independence and refugees: Lebanon gained independence in 1943. Tyre grew as a port and cultural center. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Palestinian refugees settled in camps around Tyre, such as Burj El Shimali, El Buss, and Rashidieh.
- Civil war and conflicts: The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) brought heavy fighting and damage. Israeli invasions in 1978 and 1982 caused major destruction, with further attacks in 1996 and 2006. Israeli withdrawal occurred in 2000.
- World Heritage: In 1984, UNESCO named Tyre a World Heritage Site because of its ancient ruins and historical importance.
- 21st century challenges: By the mid-2010s, economic problems and ongoing conflicts affected the area. The population in the Tyre region was about 200,000 in 2016, with pressure from refugees and environmental issues like coastal erosion.
- 2024 Gaza conflict: In late 2024, the Tyre district faced air strikes connected to fighting around Gaza. Many buildings and historic sites were damaged, and UNESCO expressed concern for the World Heritage ruins. The fighting forced many residents to leave, and by the end of 2024 the area was described as nearly empty in places, with ongoing house demolitions reported.

Today, Tyre District remains a region with a deep ancient past and a vibrant modern life, but it faces serious challenges from conflict, population pressures, and environmental changes.