UNESCO has added the ancient city of Tyre, damaged in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, to the List of World Heritage in Danger. The United Nations body stated that the site had been directly hit and that its state of conservation was a growing concern.
In the decision taken at the request of the Lebanese government, UNESCO stated that 'the optimal conditions for safeguarding the property's outstanding universal value are no longer met.'
Historical heritage in the midst of conflict
Located just 20 kilometers from the Israeli border, Tyre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. The city, which houses significant Roman ruins, has been at the center of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in recent months.
After the Israeli military issued evacuation orders, most of the city's residents left the area. More than 3,600 people have lost their lives in the clashes, where Israel has responded to Hezbollah with heavy airstrikes and a ground operation.
Roman ruins struck in attacks
The ancient city of Tyre, with a history of approximately 4,700 years, is home to two protected areas that include a Roman triumphal arch and a 2nd-century hippodrome. One of these areas was directly hit in an Israeli strike in June.
Having witnessed the Phoenician, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods, Tyre is known as one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean.
Lebanon accuses Israel of violating international convention
Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame earlier this year accused Israel of failing to comply with the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Salame also claimed that Israel disregarded the international 'blue shield' symbol designated for the protection of cultural heritage.
The decision to place Tyre on the danger list was taken at the 48th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.
Maria Nica / Editor
