Israeli strikes threaten Lebanon’s ancient heritage sites

BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) – Lebanese officials and cultural authorities have warned that ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon are endangering centuries-old archaeological sites and historic landmarks, including UNESCO-listed heritage areas in Tyre and surrounding regions.

The warning comes amid intensified Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon, where strikes near archaeological zones have raised fears of irreversible damage to some of the Mediterranean’s most significant Phoenician, Roman, and Byzantine remains.

Authorities in Lebanon said the coastal city of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been repeatedly affected by airstrikes and evacuation orders, placing ancient ruins and historic districts under increasing threat. 

The area contains some of the region’s most valuable archaeological layers spanning multiple civilizations, as reported by Arab News.

Concerns have also grown over Beaufort Castle, a historic hilltop fortress in southern Lebanon, after reports of Israeli military activity in and around the site. 

Lebanese cultural officials rejected claims circulated in Israeli media alleging the presence of tunnels or militant infrastructure beneath the structure, stressing that the site is fully managed under national antiquities protection and recognized international heritage frameworks.

Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities warned that any damage to protected cultural sites constitutes a violation of international conventions safeguarding cultural property during armed conflict. Officials said the expansion of military operations in the south is placing dozens of registered heritage sites at risk.

Cultural authorities accused Israeli forces of disregarding international protections for historic monuments and warned that repeated strikes near archaeological zones are causing structural damage even when sites are not directly hit.

Experts noted that shockwaves from nearby explosions can weaken ancient stonework, displace columns, and accelerate long-term deterioration.

Lebanese officials said more than 70 heritage sites lie within the conflict-affected southern region, including castles, ruins, religious shrines, and ancient settlements dating back to Phoenician, Roman, Crusader, and Islamic periods. 

Many of these sites are now exposed to ongoing aerial bombardment, artillery fire, and restricted access for conservation teams.

The Culture Ministry in Beirut said it has submitted repeated reports to UNESCO documenting damage and warned that continued attacks could amount to violations of international law protecting cultural heritage. 

Officials also emphasized that Lebanese military forces do not use designated archaeological sites for any operational purposes.

Experts and archaeologists described the situation as a direct assault on both cultural identity and civilian life, noting that entire historic districts, markets, and residential neighborhoods have been damaged or destroyed in the escalation. 

They warned that the combined impact of displacement, infrastructure collapse, and repeated strikes is erasing physical traces of Lebanon’s historical continuity.

Critics in Lebanon argue that the scale of destruction reflects a broader disregard for civilian life and cultural preservation, with heritage sites becoming collateral in a wider campaign that has devastated communities across the south. 

They say the loss extends beyond buildings to include centuries of memory embedded in the landscape.

UNESCO has previously placed dozens of Lebanese sites under enhanced protection status, warning that attacks on such locations may constitute serious violations of international conventions governing cultural property in wartime.

Lebanese officials continue to call for urgent international intervention to prevent further damage, as bombardment in the south continues to place both ancient heritage and civilian populations under sustained threat.