Baalbeck

The Media Glossary: Memoricide

From the vicinity of the Roman Temple of Bacchus in Baalbeck to Saint George's Church in Dardghaya and the Souks of Nabatiyeh, these sites have become collateral damage in the crossfire of war. What is memoricide? Why is it significant today? How is it translated in the context of war?

UNESCO 'enhanced protection' for 34 Lebanon heritage sites

Dozens of heritage sites in Lebanon were granted "provisional enhanced protection" by UNESCO on Monday, offering a higher level of legal shielding as fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah militants. The 34 cultural properties affected "now benefit from the highest level of immunity against attack and use for military purposes", the ...

Baalbeck Recounts... The Dawn of an Idyllic Lebanon

Winter awakens early in Lebanon, shaken by the breath of time. Winds of violence reignite the embers of war, buried beneath the ashes of a peace that, alas, hangs by a thread. The rain turns furious, desperate, ashy and absurd. A snow of fire and blood falls, heavy and relentless. Its impudent crimson stains a humanity stripped from its soul. The ...

300 Experts Urge UNESCO to Protect Lebanon's Heritage

In a petition addressed to UNESCO, 300 cultural professionals, including archaeologists and academics, called on Sunday for the protection of Lebanon's heritage, particularly Baalbeck. Since September 23, Israel has been engaged in open warfare against Hezbollah, with strikes targeting the cities of Baalbeck (east) and Tyre (south), both of which ...

Israel Pummels South Beirut as Lebanon Mulls Truce Plan

Israeli media reported on Saturday evening that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense minister have decided to intensify airstrikes on Lebanon to pressure Hezbollah into reaching a settlement. This escalation coincided with a fourth wave of raids targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut. The suburbs, known as Dahyeh, have faced ...

Caracalla Carries Baalbeck's Timeless Spirit to World Stages

Amid Lebanon's ongoing challenges, Caracalla Dance Theater recently showcased its enduring strength and cultural pride on the world stage. Invited to represent Lebanon at Beijing Forum for Performing Arts (BFPA) 2024, held at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, Caracalla joined over 60 arts institutions from across the ...

Baalbeck Tells Its Story: A Special Series on This Is Beirut

Amid the ancient temples of Baalbeck, war has rekindled its embers in Lebanon. A living memory of a country that once welcomed the world’s greatest artists, the City of the Sun now trembles beneath the blows of a world losing its balance.   Through the genius of the Rahbani Brothers, the magic of Fayrouz’s seraphic voice, the ...

Moustapha Adib: “Lebanon’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites Are a Legacy for All Mankind”

Lebanon's ambassador to UNESCO and Berlin, Moustapha Adib, spoke with This is Beirut about the upcoming special session organized by the UN on November 18 in Paris. The session will focus on enhancing protection for Lebanon's historic sites, which are being threatened by Israeli airstrikes. UNESCO announced on Thursday, November 7, that its ...

Many Casualties in Israeli Strike on Baalbeck's Civil Defense Center

The Civil Defense center in Doures in the vicinity of the ancient city of Baalbeck in east Lebanon, sustained a massive direct hit by Israeli warplanes on Thursday evening, causing many casualties among the 13 members who were at the center at the time of the strike. According to initial reports, at least eight members of the civil defense have ...

Sixteen Killed in Akkar and 11 in Saksakiyeh Following Israeli Airstrikes

An Israeli attack on a house in Ain Yaacoub village, in the governorate of Akkar, killed 16 people, according to the Ministry of Public Health. Ten others were wounded. The airstrike targeted a three-story building where a number of displaced people from the southern town of Arabsalim were staying. As four people were recovered alive, a number of ...

An Intense Night in South Lebanon and Baalbeck-Hermel

From southern Lebanon to the Beqaa, Israeli strikes continue and the death toll rises amid relentless Israeli bombardments and a drone crashing in Western Galilee.  On Monday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adrae issued yet another evacuation warning to residents of southern towns. In his post on X, Adrae stated “For your ...

Renewed Israeli Airstrikes Kill 20 in Baalbeck-Hermel and 7 in Tyre

A new wave of Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon and the Beqaa region on Saturday evening, causing heavy casualties and extensive damage. The total number of casualties since the start of the Israel-Hezbollah war has reached 3,136 killed and 13,979 wounded, according to the latest report issued by the Ministry of Health, on November 8, ...