Israeli military operations are targeting archaeological sites in Lebanon that are protected under international law, Jad Tabet said [1].
The destruction of these sites represents more than collateral damage from conflict. By dismantling physical remnants of the past, the attacks threaten the cultural identity of the population and the historical record of the region.
Tabet, an architect and advisor to the Lebanese Minister of Culture for Heritage Affairs, described the strategic nature of these strikes [1]. He said that the targeting of these specific locations is intended to sever the ties between the people and their ancestral history.
"Targeting archaeological sites aims to erase memory and the relationship of people with their history," Tabet said [1].
Under international law, cultural property and archaeological sites are granted enhanced protection to ensure they remain preserved during armed conflicts. Tabet said that these sites are specifically shielded by such regulations, yet they continue to be hit by Israeli strikes [1].
The loss of these sites impacts the ability of future generations to study and connect with the land. The advisor said that the goal of such destruction is a cultural one, an attempt to disconnect the population from their heritage and the physical evidence of their presence on the land [1].
Lebanese officials continue to monitor the damage to these protected zones as the conflict persists. The erasure of these landmarks is viewed as a systematic effort to reshape the historical narrative of the territory [1].
“Targeting archaeological sites aims to erase memory and the relationship of people with their history”
The targeting of cultural heritage sites during wartime is often viewed by historians and legal experts as 'cultural cleansing.' By destroying the physical markers of a civilization's history, an aggressor can weaken the national identity and historical claims of a population to a specific territory, making the psychological impact of the war as enduring as the physical destruction.
