The village of Nabatieh Fawka, 20 miles north of Qana,[12] is located on a stretch of hills 3 km north of the Nabatieh city. The Al Abed had family moved there since it seemed a relatively safer location, out of the way of the IDF and the South Lebanon Army.[13] The father, Hassan, was absent at the time, since he had departed to perform the Hajj in Mecca.[14]