UNESCO Designates Lebanon's Beaufort Castle, West Bank's Sebastia as World Heritage Sites in Danger

Lebanon's Mount Amel Castles, the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre, and the historic site of Sebastia in Area C of the West Bank have been designated as World Heritage Sites in Danger by UNESCO. The decision was made during the World Heritage Committee's 48th session in Busan, South Korea, which convened to evaluate new nominations and review the status of existing sites.

The List of World Heritage Sites in Danger includes locations that are part of a country's cultural and natural heritage but face "serious and specific dangers." These threats can range from large-scale development projects and abandonment to armed conflict and natural disasters. Currently, 58 sites worldwide are on this list, including the Old City of Jerusalem, which has been listed since 1982 due to urban pressure and excavation risks.

In Lebanon, heritage organizations have raised concerns about the impact of Israel's actions in the region since the current war began in 2023, warning of increased danger to historic cultural sites. Beaufort Castle, recaptured by the IDF on June 1, has been a focal point of these concerns. UNESCO previously expressed alarm over damage to a citadel in Chama and fighting near Beaufort Castle, condemning "unlawful attacks against cultural property."

Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame stated in June that Israel's operations had damaged or destroyed revered heritage sites across southern Lebanon. He emphasized that heritage encompasses not only ancient ruins but also historic buildings and structures with cultural significance. Barriers erected in Tyre to protect ancient ruins from Israeli strikes were reportedly blown into the middle of the site they were meant to shield, and a piece of metal was found at the Al-Bass Roman ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site hit by an Israeli airstrike in June.