Israeli military operation in southern Lebanon causes widespread destruction

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Israeli Forces Capture Beaufort Castle, Lebanon’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites Under Threat

Beaufort Castle, a 900-year-old fortress located on a rocky hilltop near Nabatieh, was captured by Israeli forces on Saturday. The capture follows days of intense fighting and marks the deepest military incursion into Lebanon in 26 years.

According to reports, Israeli troops have advanced north of the Litani River and are moving towards the Zahrani River. This development has raised concerns about the safety of Lebanon’s cultural heritage sites, including those designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Lebanon is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are recognized for their exceptional cultural or natural importance. The country’s Culture Minister, Ghassan Salame, stated that Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon are putting these sites at risk.

Tyre, a city located approximately 83km south of Beirut, contains the remains of an ancient Phoenician city with extensive Roman-era ruins and one of the largest hippodromes of the Roman Empire. The city has been affected by Israeli military operations, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of people.

UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, emphasized the importance of protecting cultural heritage sites. “When heritage is destroyed anywhere, moral standards are undermined, social cohesion is eroded, and trust and resilience are jeopardized,” he stated.

Lebanon has designated at least 39 cultural sites with provisional enhanced protection, which provides the highest level of legal protection for cultural heritage under international law. Several of these sites are located in southern Lebanon, where Israeli military operations are ongoing.

The capture of Beaufort Castle is part of a broader conflict that has displaced over one million people across Lebanon. The city of Tyre and surrounding areas have been particularly affected, with estimates suggesting that up to 200,000 people have been displaced from the area.

Source: Al Jazeera