Tyre, a city in southern Lebanon that has recently come under Israeli shelling, was today added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger, the organization announced on X.
In a statement, UNESCO said: "The site has been directly targeted and has sustained damage. Additionally, its state of conservation is becoming increasingly concerning, particularly given the risk of further damage," as the organization holds the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.
The archaeological site of the Roman hippodrome in Tyre, southern Lebanon. (AFP)
UNESCO added: "The conditions necessary to ensure the site's preservation and safeguard its outstanding universal value are no longer in place," noting that Lebanon had requested its inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Tyre is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, including significant remains from the Roman era, such as a triumphal arch and a hippodrome dating back to the second century AD.
One of these sites was directly struck in an Israeli attack in June. Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh condemned Israel for failing to comply with the Hague Convention, which requires the protection of cultural property during armed conflict, as well as for disregarding the "Blue Shields," the protective emblem recognized by a UNESCO-affiliated committee to safeguard the city of Tyre.
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