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 (SLA) and in 1985 was converted into a prison camp. It remained in use until Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000, and the subsequent collapse of the SLA. After the withdrawal, the prison camp was preserved in the condition it was abandoned, and converted into a museum by Hezbollah.

The Israeli Air Force destroyed the prison during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reported the use of torture and other serious human rights abuses in the facility.

Israel has denied any involvement in Khiam, allegedly claiming to have delegated operation of the centre to the South Lebanon Army (SLA) as early as 1988.