Israel damages dozens of heritage sites in southern Lebanon

Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said Israel’s nearly four‑month air and ground campaign in southern Lebanon destroyed or damaged dozens of heritage and archaeological sites. Reported losses include a crown blown off an ancient column at the UNESCO‑listed city of Tyre, the medieval Beaufort Castle, a Mamluk‑era market in Nabatieh, and other historic villages and religious buildings. Salame warned that some landmarks may require years to restore and that villages have been completely bulldozed.

Israel’s military responded that it seeks to avoid excessive damage to civilian infrastructure, applying a “rigorous approval process” for strikes near sensitive sites. UNESCO has expressed deep concern over the damage and urged reclassification of the affected sites. An Israeli‑occupied zone about 10 km deep in southern Lebanon remains off‑limits to Lebanese authorities, hampering assessment and repair work.