Protected archaeological sites at Beaufort Castle and Tyre in southern Lebanon have come under renewed focus following recent Israeli attacks. UNESCO, ICOMOS Lebanon, and Lebanon's 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 Tyre city. The statement emphasized serious concerns over the attack on this World Heritage site and stressed that cultural assets must 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 all damage to the archaeological fabric has not yet been completed, but direct damage has been confirmed.
As of June 9, UNESCO reported increasing its support. The organization confirmed damage in highly protected areas such as Tyre, Beaufort Castle, and Shama Castle, and noted that attacks have also been reported near other protected sites.
Lebanon's Minister of Culture, Gassan Salameh, sent a letter to UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enani on June 5, urgently requesting intervention to protect Beaufort Castle from destruction. Salameh wrote that following Israeli forces' capture of the castle on May 31, the structure is under serious threat.
In his letter, Salameh called for contact 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.
Beaufort 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 flags of Hezbollah and Amal.
Israeli army spokesperson Effie Defrin stated on June 7 that the area is strategic, as Hezbollah launched about 400 missiles at northern Israeli communities from there. Defrin claimed Israeli forces dismantled a large underground infrastructure network carved into the rock.
Lebanon's Directorate General of Antiquities rejected this account. The agency noted that maps and videos circulating showing Hezbollah infrastructure are far from the castle and unrelated to the archaeological complex, warning that such claims could be used to justify attacks on the historic site.
Beaufort Castle has been under restoration, reconstruction, and preparation for public visits since 2000 under the protection of Lebanon's Ministry of Culture. UNESCO granted it enhanced protection status in 2024 due to its outstanding 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. He 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 sites.
