Baalbeck

Israeli Strikes Intensify on Saturday, Increasing the Toll of Human Losses

Israeli strikes continued heavily into the evening of Saturday, causing a drastic rise in human losses. The Ministry of Public Health's Emergency Operations Center has reported 3,670 killed and 1,413 wounded since the start of the Israeli military operation against Hezbollah. In Beirut's southern suburbs, intense Israeli raids targeted buildings ...

Who Is Mohammad Haidar, Alleged Target of Basta Strikes?

At dawn on Saturday, the Israeli army carried out a series of strikes against the Basta area, and more specifically against a building where, according to unconfirmed reports, Hezbollah's head of operations, Mohammad Haidar, was staying. While some sources mention the names of the group's Secretary General, Naim Qassem, and the head of the ...

Baalbeck Recounts... The Musical Chehabism of the Rahbani Brothers

If a country had eyes, she would be its eyelids — fluttering like butterflies, grazing the dawn with their delicate wings to summon contemplation. A discreet yet all-consuming reflection on the landscape. The light awakens us, stirs us from lethargy, and intoxicates us. Beneath our hungry gaze, an idyllic land is instantly adorned with a ...

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 ...