Title: The Tragedy of Baalbek: When History Meets Conflict
Located in the heart of Lebanon, Baalbek is an iconic historical site that has long been the jewel of tourism in this small Mediterranean country. Unfortunately, the impact of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is being felt fiercely in this historic place.
Concerts that were such a draw for international and local visitors were cancelled this summer, leading to a significant drop in tourism. In the old souks of the city of Baalbek, most shops were closed on a Monday, with commercial activity severely disrupted.
Ali Abbas, a resident of Baalbek, recalls the days when the city was teeming with tourists. A lively and vibrant atmosphere that contrasts starkly with the current reality. Mohsen Tallouj describes the situation in the city as unstable and calls for an end to the fighting.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, Baalbek is home to ancient ruins, including the Temple of Jupiter. Lebanese Culture Minister Mohmmad Mortada expressed concern about the temple following Israeli airstrikes that landed a few hundred meters from it.
Last week, Israel launched a ground incursion into Lebanon as part of an operation targeting the Hezbollah militant group. The military operation has extended from southern Lebanon to the southern suburbs of Beirut, as well as the Bekaa Valley.
Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in daily exchanges of fire across the Lebanese border since the day after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, cross-border attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostage.
The aim of the Israeli operation is to put pressure on Hezbollah to stop its attacks on Israel. Hezbollah has insisted, however, that it will not stop until a ceasefire in Gaza is established.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon since late September have killed at least 1,400 people, including civilians, medics and Hezbollah fighters, and 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes.
The real tragedy of Baalbek is that a site rich in history and culture is caught in a conflict that is destroying not only human lives, but also precious heritage. It is time for peace to return to this region, so that Baalbek can regain its former glory and continue to fascinate the world with its millennia-old heritage.