The recent threat from Israeli airstrikes poses not only a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon but also a dire risk to its rich tapestry of cultural heritage. Home to world-renowned sites such as Baalbek, a 2,000-year-old Roman temple complex, Lebanon faces significant challenges in preserving its antiquities amidst violence.
As airstrikes draw nearer, many residents, including Mohammad Kanso, who once took pride in his role illuminating the majestic columns of Baalbek, have been forced to flee their homes. In the chaos, centuries-old structures have been destroyed, including an Ottoman-era building that succumbed to shrapnel just yards away from the temple complex. The fighting has claimed lives—over 3,700, as reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry—while displacing a substantial portion of the population in a country already marred by sectarian divisions.
Recognizing the urgent need for protection, UNESCO has designated 34 cultural sites in Lebanon as under “enhanced protection,” declaring any attack on these sites a serious breach of international law. This unprecedented move aims to safeguard Lebanon's vast historical treasure trove, which spans Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras. However, many significant sites are still vulnerable. Damage to churches, ancient markets, and long-standing fortifications from the crusades raises alarms among both conservationists and local officials.
The Lebanese military has mobilized, transporting valuable artifacts from vulnerable regions in the south in a bid to preserve the nation’s identity in this time of peril. As tensions escalate, the fate of Lebanon's archaeological treasures hangs in the balance, with ongoing military operations posing a constant threat to the preservation of its cultural legacy.
As airstrikes draw nearer, many residents, including Mohammad Kanso, who once took pride in his role illuminating the majestic columns of Baalbek, have been forced to flee their homes. In the chaos, centuries-old structures have been destroyed, including an Ottoman-era building that succumbed to shrapnel just yards away from the temple complex. The fighting has claimed lives—over 3,700, as reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry—while displacing a substantial portion of the population in a country already marred by sectarian divisions.
Recognizing the urgent need for protection, UNESCO has designated 34 cultural sites in Lebanon as under “enhanced protection,” declaring any attack on these sites a serious breach of international law. This unprecedented move aims to safeguard Lebanon's vast historical treasure trove, which spans Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras. However, many significant sites are still vulnerable. Damage to churches, ancient markets, and long-standing fortifications from the crusades raises alarms among both conservationists and local officials.
The Lebanese military has mobilized, transporting valuable artifacts from vulnerable regions in the south in a bid to preserve the nation’s identity in this time of peril. As tensions escalate, the fate of Lebanon's archaeological treasures hangs in the balance, with ongoing military operations posing a constant threat to the preservation of its cultural legacy.
