This valley in Lebanon (but under the control of Syria) was for many years used by terrorist and guerrilla organizations of many different descriptions for their headquarters and training camps. The Kurdistan Workers Party's (PKK) Mazlum (Mahsun) Korkmaz Camp was located here until it was finally closed down in 1992 as a sop to Turkey. Following a Turkish ultimatum in October 1998, Syria finally expelled the PKK and its leader Abdullah Ocalan from its remaining bases in this valley.
Historical Dictionary of the Kurds. Michael M. Gunter.