Israeli Strikes Damage UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tyre in Lebanon

Key facts

• Israeli airstrikes on June 7, 2026, damaged the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tyre in Lebanon.
• Damage occurred on the coastal urban site and the El-Bass necropolis and hippodrome.
• Columns, capitals, and mosaics were hit by falling debris.
• Ali Badaoui, director of archaeological sites in southern Lebanon, described it as the worst damage since the war began.
• AFP journalists observed concrete and metal debris near ancient columns and a damaged administrative office.
• Security risks prevent specialists from fully assessing the site.
• Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé called for protection of archaeological sites, citing violations of the Hague Convention and the Blue Shield emblem.
• Over 70 Lebanese cultural sites, including Tyre, have provisional enhanced protection from UNESCO since the 2023-2024 war.
• Tyre was founded by the Phoenicians and is one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean.
• The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984.