Lebanon’s ancient heritage faces a barrage of Israeli airstrikes

The conflict is taking a devastating toll on Lebanon’s ancient heritage, with airstrikes wiping out centuries-old villages and endangering fragile, millenia-old archaeological sites, like the Roman ruins of Baalbek, a United Nations world heritage site.

BYBLOS, Lebanon — The anguish in Lebanese archaeologist Nader Siklaoui’s voice is clear as he films Israeli missiles slamming down near ancient Roman columns he has spent much of his life protecting.

“Oh, God, oh, God,” he said, the camera shaking as plumes of smoke and debris fill the sky after an Oct. 26 airstrike on Tyre in southern Lebanon, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. 

Israel’s war against the Lebanese militia group Hezbollah has killed more than 3,200 people and displaced more than a million others in Lebanon according to local officials, as its military vows to end Hezbollah’s ability to launch rocket and other attacks into northern Israel, which has forced around 60,000 Israelis to flee their homes near the border. 

But the conflict is also taking a devastating toll on Lebanon’s unique and ancient heritage, with airstrikes wiping out centuries-old villages and endangering fragile, millennia-old archaeological sites, like the celebrated Roman ruins of Baalbek, a United Nations World Heritage Site.

The historic village of Mhaibib, home to an ancient shrine, and the town of Nabatiyeh, which had a centuries-old souk, have been completely destroyed, according to social media reviewed by NBC News and interviews with former residents.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-strikes-lebanon-ancient-monuments-baalbek-rcna180332

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