UNESCO World Heritage Site in Baalbek at risk amid Israeli bombing: Lebanon's culture minister

Caretaker Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada expressed serious concerns about potential damage to Lebanon's heritage sites after Israeli airstrikes near Baalbek came dangerously close to its ancient ruins over the weekend.

He confirmed to The New Arab in a phone call on Monday that the UNESCO World Heritage site was unharmed but stressed the need for international action to prevent future attacks.

His comments came after images widely shared on social media showed smoke billowing from behind the grand columns of the Jupiter Temple in Baalbek.

The air strike hit around the city only about 500 meters away from the ancient site.

The city of Baalbek, as well as towns and villages across the Baalbek-Hermel governorate in the Bekaa, came under heavy bombardment for the past two weeks as part of Israel's ferocious aerial campaign on the country.

Israel has also carpet-bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs and continues to strike areas across south Lebanon.

Mortada said he had tasked the Permanent Delegation of Lebanon to UNESCO to communicate with relevant international bodies to prevent Israel from attacking heritage sites in the country, especially those listed on the World Heritage List.

"UNESCO is responsible for looking over these sites, and we’ve asked our mission to inform the UN and its Security Council to demand Israel to respect international laws and not harm our heritage," Mortada said.

UNESCO – the United Nations' cultural arm – has six world heritage sites listed in Lebanon, including the Phoenician city of Baalbek which houses the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter, two of the largest and grandest Roman temples in the world.

He did not rule out an attack by Israel which could harm the temples, saying there was nothing stopping Israel from committing war crimes.

"This is an enemy which lacks any sort of ethics and morals and will do anything to harm Lebanon and to express its pure hatred towards it. I expect the worst from" Israel, said Mortada, who sounded genuinely worried.

"Look what happened to Gaza. Places like hospitals and schools were bombed, do you think they’ll hesitate to bomb our heritage sites?" he said. "We told the UN 'If you can’t stop violations against civilians, fine, but at least make sure our [ancient] stones are protected."

TNA asked Mortada if there was anything around the temple complex that Israel could strike and use as a pretext.

"Israel doesn’t need an excuse to commit war crimes," he said. "There is nothing that can justify Israel attacking such an important site in Lebanon."