Israeli forces have captured Beaufort Castle, a 900-year-old fortress near Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, marking the deepest Israeli military incursion into Lebanon in 26 years. The advance north of the Litani River and toward the Zahrani River has placed numerous archaeological and cultural sites in jeopardy despite a declared ceasefire. Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said Israeli attacks are putting heritage sites, including the ancient city of Tyre, in serious danger.

Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 83 kilometers south of Beirut, contains extensive Roman-era ruins and remnants of the ancient Phoenician civilization. Bombings have reportedly fallen close to its ruins, while Beaufort Castle was directly hit. The conflict has displaced tens of thousands from Tyre and about one million people across Lebanon. UNESCO officials have emphasized that the destruction of heritage undermines social cohesion and identity.

Lebanon hosts six UNESCO World Heritage Sites and at least 39 cultural sites under provisional enhanced protection. Violations of these protections could constitute breaches of the 1954 Hague Convention and its 1999 Second Protocol, potentially leading to criminal responsibility under international law.