Another historic building was bombarded on Saturday in Nabatiyeh. The Israeli Army targeted a historic home, one of the oldest in the city, which belonged to the late MP Rafic Chahine.
While the Israeli Army insists on launching raids against or close to historical sites, and following the Lebanese MP’s appeal to the international community to take immediate action, UNESCO will hold an extraordinary session in that regard. Until that session on the 18th, how many more sites will be destroyed?
“Baalbeck Castle Is at Risk”
The Governor of the Baalbeck-Hermel Governorate, Bachir Khodr, warned on Saturday that the “Baalbeck Castle is at risk today, despite diplomatic efforts to protect Lebanon's archaeological sites."
He also revealed that "more than 50 airstrikes targeted Hermel this week."
"The technical inspection of the castle has not been carried out yet due to security conditions, but we will conduct it to ensure that no damage has occurred to the castle as a result of the recent airstrikes, which has not been visibly detected,” he added.
MPs Appeal, UNESCO’s Extraordinary Session
While Israel continues to target historic buildings, a group of Lebanese parliamentarians has made an urgent appeal to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to intervene and protect Lebanon’s cultural heritage sites, which are facing mounting threats due to the ongoing Israeli attacks and destruction.
The MPs delivered a message to UNESCO, urging the global organization to take immediate action to safeguard the country’s invaluable historical landmarks from further damage, including those in Baalbeck, Tyre, Sidon, and other historic cities, in a letter on Thursday.
The MPs concluded their letter by urging Azoulay and UNESCO to prioritize the preservation of these historical monuments, ensuring that they remain as symbols of unity and peace for future generations.
UNESCO's Special Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict will meet on November 18 for an extraordinary session devoted to Lebanon, to call for “enhanced protection” of Lebanon's heritage.
Comments