The Israeli air strike in the ancient city of Baalbek, Lebanon, left an Ottoman-era building obliterated just meters away from the ancient temples of Baalbek, which lie in the fertile Bekaa valley near the borders with Syria in eastern Lebanon. The attack has pushed the issue perilously close to one of the country’s most treasured archaeological heritage sites and threatens the preservation of Lebanon’s heritage amidst escalating violence. The airstrike is one of many in an operation that has killed dozens and continues to land blows on areas associated with Hezbollah.

Close Call for Baalbek’s Historic Sites

The latest strike reduced the historic Ottoman-era building to a pile of grey rubble and twisted metal near a burnt-out bus just steps away from the temples of Baalbek. While no direct damage to the temples was detected, Gov. Bachir Khodr said specialists had not reached the area yet because airstrikes were still ongoing. “The castle guards confirmed no visible damage to the temples, but we need engineers and archaeologists to assess the area,” Khodr said.

Artisan’s Quarter Becomes Battle Front

A building was demolished by the conflict in the artistic Manshiyeh district of Baalbek, a site popular with tourists. Khodr said the normally crowded district is now empty because of the war. “It’s very artisanal, usually crowded by tourists. Luckily, no one was in the building at the time of the attack,” he said.

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Possible Cultural Loss for Heritage Sites

May 31, 2023 – According to Maya Halabi of the Baalbek International Festival, from three Ottoman-era buildings, one is the ruined building that was attacked by Israeli artillery attacks recently. She added that the Gouroud Barracks and the Palmyra Hotel were also assaulted in addition to last week’s strike. “The Acropolis, where the temples are, is only a few meters away. Up to now, they have not been struck. We hope that will continue to be,” said Halabi.

Escalation of Conflict and the Rising Death Toll

Airstrikes form a part of an intensified campaign by Israel against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. The campaign has increased progressively with increased aggressiveness during the last two weeks in late September and has even led to significant casualties – over 3,000 lives have been lost in Lebanon in the previous year alone, most within the last six weeks. That raises concerns that the Baalbek temples and the rest of this country’s historical treasures may become the secondary victims in a quickly escalating regional crisis.

A Patrimony in Peril 

Lebanon’s patrimony is threatened to an extent never seen before as violence escalates, particularly around the places of many of these monuments. Lebanese authorities are urging greater international recognition and protection of these monuments in fear that irrevocable damage will be done to the nation’s patrimony.