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An Israeli strike targeted the Greek Catholic district of Baalbeck, a town in northeast Lebanon known for its Roman ruins listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The governor of the Baalbeck region has confirmed that an Israeli missile hit a parking lot located in the immediate vicinity of the ancient ruins and the Greek Catholic quarter of the city, raising concerns not only for the safety of residents, but also for the integrity of the historic monuments of this emblematic area.
An emblematic district under threat
Baalbeck, rich in cultural heritage of global significance, is home to monuments such as the Temples of Bacchus and Jupiter, which attract visitors from around the world every year. This neighborhood, inhabited by a Greek Catholic community, is today under direct threat from Israeli military operations, which are coming dangerously close to civilian areas and heritage sites.
This strike only accentuates the fear of seeing these historical ruins, already weakened by time and the environment, damaged by the impacts of the bombings. If strikes increase nearby, irreparable damage could be inflicted on Baalbeck’s architectural treasures, compromising the cultural heritage of Lebanon and the world.
Local and international reactions
The governor of Baalbeck strongly condemned the attack, saying that “targeting an area so close to historic monuments demonstrates a flagrant violation of international laws for the protection of heritage in times of conflict.” The residents, deeply shocked, express their fears for their safety as well as for the preservation of the architectural treasures of their city.
The incident sparks calls for intervention from the international community to protect Lebanon’s cultural sites. International organizations, including UNESCO, could be called upon to provide increased monitoring and condemn strikes endangering world-famous historic sites.
Escalation of tensions and threat to world heritage
The Baalbeck strike highlights the consequences of armed conflicts on cultural heritage. With increasingly frequent strikes hitting residential and heritage areas in Lebanon, concerns are growing over the risk of irreparable damage to the ruins of Baalbeck and other historic sites in the country.
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