Lebanon's Ministry of Culture Condemns Israeli Attacks on Tyre Archaeological Site

The Ministry of Culture's Directorate General of Antiquities condemned the repeated Israeli attacks targeting the Tyre archaeological site, which has been listed as a World Heritage site since 1984. The site has also enjoyed enhanced protection since November 2024 under the 1954 Hague Convention and its 1999 Second Protocol concerning the safeguarding of cultural property during armed conflicts.

The statement highlighted that the ancient city of Tyre, containing over five thousand years of human history, represents a fundamental part of global cultural heritage. It holds exceptional historical, civilizational, and symbolic significance for all humanity. Accordingly, the protection of this site is not solely Lebanon's responsibility but a collective duty mandated by international law and treaties dedicated to cultural heritage preservation.

On June 7, 2026, the site was subjected to Israeli air raids targeting the area immediately at the entrance of the archaeological site known as the "City Site." The bombardment damaged a historic building and electrical generators adjacent to the main entrance, as well as the offices of the Directorate General of Antiquities and the southeastern part of the archaeological site. These attacks caused direct harm to the site's entrance and administrative buildings, and archaeological elements nearby, including columns and capitals, were also affected. Due to current security conditions, a full assessment of the damage remains unfeasible; however, it is confirmed that the archaeological structures sustained actual damage requiring a comprehensive field evaluation once safe access is secured.

This assault is part of an ongoing series of violations against the site and its surroundings since 2024, reflecting a clear disregard for international agreements and charters that guarantee the protection of cultural property during armed conflicts. The intensity of these attacks escalated after May 2026 following orders to evacuate the entire city of Tyre, coinciding with raids targeting the archaeological neighborhood adjacent to the site. The latest attack on June 7, 2026, affected the site's entrance, administrative buildings, and caused direct damage to some archaeological elements within. Despite repeated official complaints by the Ministry of Culture's Directorate General of Antiquities to UNESCO and the site's enhanced protection status, Israeli attacks on the Tyre archaeological site continue unabated, constituting a blatant violation of international law and obligations related to the safeguarding of global cultural heritage.

The Ministry of Culture's Directorate General of Antiquities called on the international community, UNESCO, and all entities concerned with cultural heritage protection to take immediate and effective action to ensure the safeguarding of the Tyre archaeological site. It urged that the site be kept free from any military activities or conflicts that could lead to the destruction of this unique historical landmark and the erasure of an invaluable part of humanity’s memory and heritage.