Threats to Ancient Tyre Ruins Amid Ongoing Conflict

The ancient ruins of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Lebanon, are facing significant threats from Israeli airstrikes amid the ongoing conflict involving Hezbollah. Located approximately 20 kilometers from the Israeli border, Tyre has been targeted multiple times since the escalation of hostilities following Hezbollah's rocket attack on Israel on March 2, 2024. The Al-Bass archaeological site, which features a necropolis dating back three millennia, has been particularly affected, with recent strikes occurring dangerously close to its historic structures.

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Tyre is one of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean coast, with a rich history that includes periods of Phoenician, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine rule. The site is home to numerous artifacts and structures, including a Roman-era triumphal arch, aqueducts, and a hippodrome. The Lebanese government, in collaboration with UNESCO, has initiated a protective measure by placing blue and white signs at over thirty archaeological locations across the country, emphasizing the obligation under the 1954 Hague Convention to safeguard cultural property during armed conflicts.

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Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame condemned the Israeli strikes, asserting that the archaeological sites do not host any military presence, thus rendering the justification for their bombardment invalid. He stated, "The archaeological sites do not contain any military or security presence. Therefore, this argument cannot be used to justify their bombing." The Israeli military has not commented on specific incidents but typically claims its operations target Hezbollah sites.

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Local residents and officials express deep concern over the ongoing attacks and their implications for cultural heritage. Mustapha Najdi, a guard at the Al-Bass site, described the chaos during the March 6 strike, stating, "I heard a very violent impact. I fled and alerted the authorities." He lamented the lack of attention to their plight, saying, "No one cares about us," and called for international pressure to halt the violence against cultural sites.

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There are discrepancies regarding the extent of damage caused by the Israeli strikes. While the Lebanese health ministry reported that eight people were killed in a recent strike, the specific impact on the archaeological site remains unclear. The ministry's inspection team found human remains near the museum under construction, but the necropolis itself reportedly sustained no direct damage from the explosion.

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As the conflict continues, the threat to Tyre's ancient ruins remains significant. The Lebanese government is likely to pursue further protective measures for cultural sites, while local residents face ongoing challenges due to the destruction of infrastructure, such as bridges, which are critical for access to the region. The situation underscores the urgent need for international attention to the preservation of cultural heritage amid armed conflict.

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