Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Barrack: We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity building peace and prosperity with their neighbors
US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa supported by the US have agreed to a ceasefire embraced by Türkiye, Jordan, and their neighbors
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: We carried out a top-tier operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Lydd with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile
Israeli media: Israelis in the Gush Dan area and al-Quds were asked to enter shelters immediately
Sirens sound in Tel Aviv and occupied al-Quds after a missile was launched from Yemen
Sheikh Qassem: We are ready to defend ourselves if 'Israel' attacks us in a way that we believe calls for us to defend ourselves
Sheikh Qassem: "Israel" will never be handed over our weapons
Sheikh Qassem: He who refuses so and accepts humiliation, that is their own business, but for us, we will not accept humiliation. We have made great sacrifices, and our strength has helped us achieve this result
Sheikh Qassem: Be patient with the issue of exclusivity of arms with the state in the face of the great danger that will not spare Lebanon; let us speak with one voice and work for the sake of priority
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon faces three real dangers: 'Israel', ISIS tools on the eastern border, and US tyranny

Israeli aggression threatens Lebanon’s archaeological treasures

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The New York Times
  • 26 Nov 2024 13:57
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The Israeli strikes on Tyre and Baalbek bear witness to the Israeli atrocities.

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli strikes threaten Lebanon’s archaeological treasures
    The Roman ruins of Baalbek, one of the best preserved in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, are seen empty of visitors, in the Bekaa Valley in Baalbek, Lebanon, on April 1, 2021. (AP)

The Israeli aggression has sparked a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, but it has also put at risk the country's historic landmarks, which are a shared source of pride in the nation.

The Baalbek Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands among the endangered treasures. Spanning the Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras, these ancient marvels—some dating back thousands of years—are now at great risk.

Archaeologists, conservators, and the Lebanese army are working tirelessly to safeguard this irreplaceable legacy, racing against time to preserve its profound historical and cultural significance.

Last week, UNESCO designated 34 cultural sites in Lebanon for "enhanced protection", a status that underscores their vulnerability and elevates their safeguarding priority. This measure classifies any attacks on these sites as serious violations of the 1954 Hague Convention, potentially subjecting perpetrators to prosecution under international law.

However, numerous historic sites remain absent from the list and have already suffered damage or destruction due to Israeli airstrikes, according to Lebanese officials and the United Nations. Among these are churches, ancient cemeteries, centuries-old marketplaces, and Crusader-era castles, all irreplaceable markers of Lebanon's rich and diverse heritage.

Despite rising cautious optimism about a potential ceasefire agreement, much of Lebanon's invaluable heritage has already been irreparably lost. The full scope of the destruction remains uncertain, leaving a profound cultural void that may never be entirely measured or restored.

Related News

'Israel' allocates an extra $12.5bln to fund its wars across West Asia

Erdogan slams Israeli strikes on Syria, says will not accept division

Joanne Farshakh Bajali, a prominent Lebanese archaeologist and head of Bladi, an organization dedicated to preserving Lebanon's heritage, expressed profound anguish over the ongoing destruction.

"They are destroying the memory," she stated, drawing a stark comparison between the damage inflicted by Israeli airstrikes and the devastation of archaeological sites in Afghanistan, highlighting the irreversible loss of cultural identity and history.

Brigadier General Youssef Haidar of the Lebanese army is spearheading efforts to safeguard the nation's heritage. He oversees a specialized unit tasked with relocating artifacts from the severely damaged southern regions, including invaluable pieces that trace back to the Roman and Byzantine civilizations.

At the base, located just a few miles from Beirut, Brigadier General Haidar's troops carried out drills, carefully stacking sandbags over actual artifacts.

This protective strategy is intended to shield the priceless items from shrapnel and shockwaves resulting from nearby explosions, demonstrating a meticulous approach to preserving Lebanon's cultural heritage amid the ongoing war.

Archaeologists have documented extensive destruction across numerous historic border towns, where entire areas have been severely damaged or obliterated. The impact of the strikes has also reached major urban centers, including the ancient cities of Baalbek and Tyre, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, further endangering Lebanon's rich cultural legacy.

The widespread devastation of towns and cities has not spared the dead, as historical cemeteries in Lebanon have been damaged or destroyed amidst Israeli bombardments. These cemeteries, regarded by archaeologists as vital heritage sites, hold centuries of cultural and historical significance, now jeopardized by the ongoing war.

Read more: ‘Israel’s’ strikes on Baalbek and Tyre: A war on Lebanon’s identity

  • Israeli aggression
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Lebanon
  • UNESCO
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

Most Read

Algerian nurse stabbed in Germany

Murder of Algerian nurse in Germany sparks outcry, demands for justice

  • Europe
  • 14 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025
Al-Qassam Brigades fighters confront Israeli soldiers in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

3 Israeli soldiers killed amid Gaza battles: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 14 Jul 2025
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Exclusive: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

  • Politics
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The US Capitol, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Congress set to weaken oversight on foreign US arms sales

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll
US & Canada

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank
Palestine

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from High School hall of fame
Politics

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from high school Hall of Fame

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS