Israeli Military Strikes Endanger Lebanon's Cultural Heritage

Israeli airstrikes have intensified concerns over the destruction of Lebanese antiquities amidst a humanitarian crisis, prompting urgent protective measures.

In the shadow of conflict, Lebanon's rich tapestry of history is under siege. The ancient city of Baalbek, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its grand Roman temples, has become a focal point of cultural and historical concern as Israeli airstrikes escalate.

For Mohammad Kanso, a lifelong guardian of Baalbek’s majestic ruins, the airstrikes signal a devastating loss. The 2,000-year-old temples, once a symbol of national pride, are now surrounded by chaos. After fleeing amid the bombings, Kanso lost family structures following a direct strike, marking a personal and collective tragedy in his life.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the ongoing military operations against Hezbollah have left over 3,700 lives lost and nearly a quarter of Lebanon's five million people displaced. Amidst the humanitarian crisis, cultural experts warn of the looming threat to thousands of years of historical artifacts.

Baalbek is among several threatened locations, and efforts to safeguard Lebanon's diverse heritage, which includes Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman artifacts, are underway. The Lebanese military and conservationists are mobilizing resources to protect archaeological sites.

Last week, UNESCO announced its safeguarding of 34 significant cultural landmarks in Lebanon, enacting what they call "enhanced protection." This classification adds legal weight to the defense of these sites, which would categorize attacks on them as a serious breach of the 1954 Hague Convention. However, many vital cultural assets remain unprotected, and reports confirm ongoing damage from military actions, impacting historic churches, centuries-old markets, and medieval castles linked to the Crusades.

As violence threatens both lives and legacy, the urgency to preserve Lebanon's irreplaceable history grows, underscoring the importance of diplomacy in sustaining both human and cultural legacies.