UNESCO's Special Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property will convene an emergency session on November 18 to discuss the preservation of heritage sites in Lebanon, particularly in Baalbek, a city known for its well-preserved Roman ruins.
Lebanon's U.N. ambassador, Moustapha Adib, alongside the director general of antiquities, Sarkis Khoury, will represent the Lebanese cultural ministry at the session. This meeting follows urgent appeals from Lebanese authorities for international intervention to protect the Roman temples in Baalbek and other historic sites threatened by ongoing Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah.
Since the escalation of Israeli airstrikes on September 27, at least 40 individuals have died and over 50 have been injured in Baalbek and surrounding areas. Israel claims to have targeted Hezbollah command centers and has issued evacuation orders, leading to the displacement of approximately 50,000 civilians.
Recent images suggest damage to cultural sites, including a plume of smoke near the Roman temples, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Archaeologist Joanne Bajjaly noted that structural damage has occurred to various historic landmarks, including the Qubbat Doris and city walls dating back to the Ottoman era.
Lebanon's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO has urged Director General Audrey Azoulay to emphasize the need for enhanced protection of natural and archaeological sites. Adib stated that there is a pressing need for international organizations to assist in restoring damaged heritage and hold Israel accountable for its actions against cultural sites.