As the war in the Middle East continues, cultural and historical sites in the region are increasingly under threat sparking renewed calls from Middle East states and UNESCO for help protecting heritage sites.
With the United States and Israel’s war with Iran now in its fourth week, representatives from numerous countries in the Middle East are calling on UNESCO to help protect their heritage sites caught in the crossfire.
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A recent meeting between UNESCO and Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities discussed “immediate measures to strengthen the protection of vulnerable cultural properties across the country,” UNESCO said in a statement.
Last week, UNESCO confirmed that “several sites of cultural significance” in the region have been reported as impacted and damaged in the war. They renewed their call for maximum restraint to spare the “social foundation of societies” and reiterated the obligation of parties to respect international law.
Here are some of the key sites damaged by the escalating war.
Golestan Palace, Tehran, Iran
Debris from a US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran damaged the Golestan Palace — a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Qajar-era palace’s mirrored ceilings, windows, and archways were impacted, according to AP.
The damage triggered concern from UNESCO, which said it communicated the geographical coordinates of the World Heritage sites and sites of national significance to avoid harming them in the conflict.
Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan, Iran
Strikes carried on the city of Isfahan targeting the governor’s building damaged the interior of the Chehel Sotoun Palace, which is in close proximity to the building. The 17th-century pavilion is part of the Persian Garden — a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This came just a week after the Golestan Palace sustained damage from the US-Israeli strike on Tehran.
Ali Qapu Palace, Isfahan, Iran
The Ali Qapu palace in Isfahan, due to its proximity to the governor’s building, also suffered as a result of strikes on the city. Damage to the interior, including the intricate tilework, has been reported.
Masjed-e Jameh, Isfahan, Iran
Shock waves from the strikes on Isfahan reportedly damaged the Masjed-e Jameh (Jameh Mosque), the oldest Friday mosque in Iran and another UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to reports in German media.
Tyre, Lebanon
The World Heritage site town of Tyre in southern Lebanon, once a Phoenician city, has been endangered by Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Parts of the site have been reported as damaged, according to a recent statement by UNESCO.
