Israel strikes Lebanon’s UNESCO World Heritage Site- the city of Tyre: What new you need to know?

Published on October 26, 2024

By: Paramita Sarkar

Israel launched a major airstrike on Lebanon’s ancient city of Tyre, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, leaving large parts of the city in ruins.

The raids, described as among the most intense since the start of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict last month, targeted the “heart of Tyre,” according to Rana, a local resident, who fled after receiving warnings of the attack.

“The whole city shook,” she said, after the Israeli military issued a notice for residents to evacuate Tyre’s center on Wednesday morning.

Black smoke billowed from several neighborhoods, with parts of the affected area just 500 meters from the city’s archaeological ruins, dating back to Roman times.

The strikes led to “massive destruction,” causing extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and vehicles, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

AFP footage showed entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Bilal Kashmar, head of Tyre’s disaster management unit, confirmed that seven buildings were completely leveled, with more than 400 apartments damaged.

He added that at least two people were injured.

Israel Targets Hezbollah Strongholds

The Israeli army confirmed the strikes on “command and control complexes of various Hezbollah units” in Tyre.

Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, described Tyre as a significant Hezbollah stronghold.

However, the city is also known to be a base for Amal, a political ally of Hezbollah.

Mass Evacuation from Tyre

Before the conflict escalated last month, Tyre was home to a diverse population of 50,000, consisting of both Christians and Muslims.

However, the majority of the city’s population fled when Israeli bombardments began, with only 14,500 remaining as of Tuesday, according to Kashmar.

A fresh wave of evacuations was triggered by Wednesday’s strikes, as residents fled the city following the Israeli army’s warnings to evacuate four neighborhoods.

Emergency teams were seen urging residents to leave the city via loudspeakers.

An AFP photographer in the nearby city of Sidon observed dozens of cars filled with families fleeing Tyre, carrying their belongings.

Civil defense teams were also mobilized to help evacuate elderly residents and those with limited mobility.

Impact on Tyre’s UNESCO Heritage Sites

Tyre is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and boasts significant archaeological sites, mainly from Roman times.

While a full damage assessment for Tyre’s UNESCO World Heritage site has not yet been conducted, there are concerns about potential harm.

One airstrike landed just 50 meters from the ruins, according to Kashmar.

UNESCO stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and is using remote sensing tools and satellite imagery to assess the impact of the ongoing conflict on Tyre’s heritage sites.

Intensified Conflict and Rising Casualties

The Israeli air campaign in Lebanon began on September 23, following months of cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah tied to the conflict in Gaza.

Since the start of the strikes, at least 1,552 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to a tally by AFP, citing figures from Lebanon’s health ministry.

However, the actual number of casualties is likely higher due to incomplete data.

As the conflict escalates, the destruction of Tyre, a city with immense cultural and historical significance, marks a devastating chapter in the ongoing war.