Israeli Campaign Damaged Heritage Sites in Southern Lebanon

Israeli military operations damaged or destroyed heritage sites across southern Lebanon during a nearly four-month campaign targeting Hezbollah, Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame told Reuters. A crown was blown off an ancient column at the UNESCO-listed site in Tyre. A pilgrimage site for Muslims and Christians was destroyed in another southern town.

Israeli strikes hit the Mamluk-era market in Nabatieh, and troops razed centuries-old border towns. Al-Monitor reported that the campaign left villages completely bulldozed inside an occupation zone about 10 km deep that remains off-limits to Lebanese as of June 28, 2026.

The zone includes the medieval Beaufort Castle and centuries-old villages home to Christians, Shi'ite Muslims and Sunni Muslims along with their places of worship.

Ancient towns outside the zone, including Tyre and Nabatieh, were also struck. Heavy bombing hit Tebnin, prompting fears that its Crusader fortress was damaged. Salame said heritage includes historic buildings, archaeological sites and buildings with a cultural function.

Barriers set up to shield ancient ruins in Tyre from strikes or debris were blown into the middle of the site. A piece of metal from an airstrike on June 25, 2026, remained at the Al-Bass Roman ruins. Adnan Istanbouli, an official from Lebanon's antiquities department, described the damage at a Roman mosaic as if an earthquake had struck.

Israel's military said it does not aim to cause excessive damage to civilian infrastructure and strikes only out of military necessity with consideration for the safety of its citizens. It added that it took into account sensitive sites and applied a rigorous approval process. Israel has accused Hezbollah of placing weapons in Beaufort Castle, a claim Lebanese authorities deny.