Lebanese Minister of Culture Ghassan Salamé confirmed to Agence France Presse today, Friday, that a number of important archaeological sites in Lebanon are facing a serious threat as a result of Israeli airstrikes, including those located in the city of Tyre and Qalaat Shqif (Beaufort Castle).

He stated that shells had fallen near the archaeological sites of Tyre, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, noting that Qalaat Shqif in Arnoun had been directly struck by shelling.

Castle of Shaqif (Archive).

Yesterday, Thursday, the municipality of Arnoun condemned the Israeli shelling that targeted Qalaat Shqif in southern Lebanon, considering the attack to have struck “one of the most prominent archaeological and heritage landmarks of national, cultural, and humanitarian value.”

In a statement, the municipality said that the shelling comes amid “the blowing up of residential homes, the destruction of neighborhoods and infrastructure, and the forced displacement of residents from their land and homes,” stressing that the castle “is not merely an archaeological site, but a living witness to the history of the region and the resilience of its people throughout the centuries.”

The municipality also pointed out that in 2024, the castle had been granted “enhanced protection” under the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, considering its targeting to be “a clear and explicit violation of international laws and conventions related to the protection of cultural and human heritage.”