Israeli Airstrikes Threaten World Heritage Site in Baalbek, Lebanon
Baalbek, Lebanon – Israeli airstrikes have directly threatened the safety of theBaalbek archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage site in eastern Lebanon. The city’s government reported that Israeli forces bombed buildings surrounding the site on both June6th and 7th, raising concerns about potential damage to the ancient ruins.
On June 7th, debris and car wreckage littered the area surrounding the Baalbeksite, a testament to the recent airstrikes. The city government stated that a hotel located just across the street from the site was severely damaged during the June 6th attack. The following day, a building with over 250 years ofhistory was completely destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, situated between the hotel and the archaeological site.
The building that was destroyed on the 7th is located between the hotel that was bombed on the 6th and the Baalbek site, said Mustafa, the Mayor of Baalbek. We are waiting for UNESCO and the government’s antiquities department to assess the damage. I urge all international organizations to help protect Baalbek, to protect this precious World Heritage site from Israel’s continued attacks.
Local residents expressed outrage at the Israeli airstrikes,claiming that there was no military activity in the vicinity of the site. They believe that the Israeli military is deliberately targeting the area to erase the region’s rich historical heritage.
This site is the history of Baalbek, it is the history of Lebanon, said Suheil, a Baalbek resident. This is whyIsrael is targeting it. There is no military activity in this area, but it is known that Israeli attacks do not discriminate between civilians or cultural heritage.
On June 7th, over 100 Lebanese parliamentarians issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli airstrikes and the threat they pose to Lebanon’s historicalheritage. They called on UNESCO to intervene and protect these invaluable sites.
In this devastating war against Lebanon, Israel has flagrantly violated human rights, torn up international law, and trampled on the values of the United Nations, said Najat, a Lebanese parliamentarian. As Lebanese parliamentarians, we urgently requestUNESCO to protect Lebanon’s historical heritage.
Lebanon currently boasts six UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among them, the Baalbek site, renowned for its Roman-era ruins including the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Bacchus, and the Temple of Venus, has been particularly vulnerable to the recent Israeli military operations.
TheBaalbek site, located approximately 90 kilometers northeast of Beirut, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1984.
Previously, Lebanon had filed a complaint with the UN Security Council regarding Israeli military actions impacting its World Heritage sites.
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