UN expert warns Lebanon cultural heritage in peril amid IOF aggression
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Jeanine Hennis, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon at UNSCOL, has expressed grave concerns over recent evacuation orders in Baalbek and Tyre.
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Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area on the outskirts of the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek, in the Bekaa Valley, on Thursday. (AFP via Getty Images)
Recent evacuation orders for Baalbek and Tyre have led to the mass displacement of tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens, said Jeanine Hennis, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon at the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), in a post on X.
Hennis emphasized that these ancient Phoenician cities, rich in history, are at risk of being left in ruins, warning that Lebanon's cultural heritage must not become another victim of Israeli aggression on Lebanon.
Recent evacuation orders for the cities of Baalbek and Tyre forced tens of thousands of Lebanese to flee en masse. Worsening an already catastrophic mass displacement situation. Ancient Phoenician cities steeped in history are in deep peril of being left in ruins. Lebanon’s…
— Jeanine Hennis (@JeanineHennis) November 1, 2024
Lebanese minister urges safety of Baalbek temple complex from strikes
On Wednesday, Lebanese Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada urged the international community and UNESCO to prevent Israeli attacks on the historic Roman temple complex in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.
"Israel" issued an evacuation order that spanned the entire city of Baalbek, forcing people to evacuate their houses quickly, as the IOF usually proceed to strike areas under its evacuation order in less than an hour and in many times exceeding the area specified in the said order.
"If there is still conscience in this world, let them prevent Israel from striking the temple complex in Baalbek, which represents a world cultural treasure included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list."
Lebanese news agency NNA quoted the Minister as saying this concerns "not only Lebanon but all of humanity."
The Culture Minister encouraged Lebanon's permanent representative to UNESCO in Paris to register concerns with the agency immediately and engage in required discussions to avert strikes on the Baalbek temple complex.
Mortada further stated that he had unannounced conversations with Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, and Najib Mikati, interim prime minister. Meanwhile, thousands of Baalbek residents are fleeing their houses after the IOF issued warnings about impending attacks on civilian areas, according to locals.
In a similar context, the IOF are heavily bombarding the ancient city of Tyre, leveling entire blocks to the ground. The city is a few thousand years older than the Israeli occupation and holds a great deal of culture, knowledge, and historical significance for the entire region.
@mayadeenenglish In a previous video, Al Mayadeen addressed "Israel's" so-called "evacuation orders" issued in Lebanon. These orders do not only come out in the middle of the night and on short notice, but in many instances, they also include false information, as the orders specify particular buildings, but the bombing affects entire neighborhoods. A few days ago, "Israel" issued an "evacuation order" for a huge area in Tyre, South Lebanon. Tyre is one of the largest cities in Lebanon, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and full of life and heritage. Let's see how that "evacuation order" is not... really one. #Lebanon #Tyre
♬ original sound - Al Mayadeen English
It is worth noting that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon has risen to 2,867 martyrs, with 13,047 individuals reported injured, as confirmed by the Lebanese Ministry of Health's Operations Center for Public Health on Thursday.
