Baalbek is a city situated in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, located east of the Litani River. It sits approximately 67 km (42 mi) northeast of the capital, Beirut, and serves as the administrative center of the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate.
The city had a population of 82,608 in 1998. The demographic composition primarily consists of Shia Muslims, followed by Sunni Muslims and Christians. Additionally, the area has seen a significant presence of Syrian refugees since 2017.