Ras Baalbek  Ras Baalbek () is a village in the northern Beqaa Valley in Lebanon. Notable features include the monastery of "Our Lady of Ras Baalbek" ("Deir Saidat ar-Ras") and two Byzantine churches. One church is in the centre of the village and the other lies to the east where some other ruins can be found that are alleged to be the remains of a Roman aqueduct. Inhabitants of the village have confirmed it was once called "Connaya," suggesting a link to the ancient settlement of Conna, mentioned in the work of Antonius. It is also 500 metres west of a Neolithic rock shelter called Ras Baalbek I. In 2014, the war with ISIS in the nearby village of Arsal resulted in the residents of Ras Baalbek forming a militia to protect the village. The militias were allied to the Lebanese Armed Forces. In September 2016 the Lebanese Army attacked Islamic State positions near Ras Baalbek. Around 15,000 people live in Ras Baalbek. The population is entirely Christian, mainly Greek Catholic, having switched from Orthodox Christianity in 1721. The village is fashion designer Zuhair Murad's hometown.