The protected archaeological sites at Beirut Castle and Sur in southern Lebanon have come back into focus following recent Israeli attacks. UNESCO, ICOMOS Lebanon, and the Lebanese Ministry of Culture confirmed damage in the area and issued urgent warnings.
In a statement released on June 8, ICOMOS Lebanon highlighted the struck area at the entrance of Sur city. The statement emphasized serious concerns over the attack on the World Heritage site and stressed that cultural assets should not be used for military purposes.
According to the organization, the attacks affected the entrance area, administrative buildings, and archaeological storage facilities. Due to security conditions, a full assessment of the damage to the archaeological fabric has not yet been completed, but direct damage has been confirmed.
UNESCO announced on June 9 that it has increased its support. The organization confirmed damage in highly protected areas such as Sur, Beirut Castle, and Shama’ Castle, and reported attacks near other protected sites as well.
Lebanese Minister of Culture Gassan Salameh sent a letter to UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enani on June 5, requesting urgent intervention to protect Beirut Castle from destruction. Salameh wrote that the structure is under serious threat following Israeli forces’ capture of the castle on May 31.
In his letter, Salameh called for engagement with relevant parties and the activation of international mechanisms to prevent the castle’s destruction. He warned that silence or delay could lead to irreversible consequences for cultural heritage protected under international law.
Beirut Castle, a 12th-century Crusader fortress, is considered a symbol of the conflict in southern Lebanon. Visited by T. E. Lawrence during his 1909 Levant journey, the structure changed hands multiple times over centuries due to its strategic hilltop location.
The castle came under Israeli control during the 1982 Lebanon War. In later years, it became a symbol flying the flags of Hezbollah and Amal.
Israeli army spokesperson Effie Defrin stated on June 7 that the area is a strategic zone from which Hezbollah launched about 400 rockets at northern Israeli communities. Defrin claimed Israeli forces dismantled a large underground infrastructure network carved into the rock.
The Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities rejected this account. The agency noted that the Hezbollah infrastructure shown in circulated maps and videos is far from the castle and unrelated to the archaeological complex, warning that such claims could be used to justify attacks on the historic site.
Beirut Castle has been under restoration, reconstruction, and preparation for public visits since 2000 under the protection of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture. UNESCO granted it enhanced protection status in 2024 due to its exceptional heritage value.
Alon Arad, executive director of the Israeli archaeological and cultural heritage organization Emek Shaveh, said the castle has historically been transformed into a military symbol. Arad explained that when a heritage site becomes a symbol for one party, it can be seen as a legitimate target in conflict, illustrating why international law prohibits turning cultural assets into military zones.
