A tragedy struck the city of Baalbek in September 2024, leaving behind the remains of history ravaged by an Israeli airstrike. At the heart of this drama are the Roman antiquities, silent witnesses of a glorious past, now threatened by modern conflicts.
Archaeologist Joanne Farchakh Bajjali, dismayed by the recent events, expresses her concern about the damage caused to the parking lot of the Temple of Jupiter, located near the ancient ruins of Baalbek. Lebanese MPs, for their part, call for UNESCO’s help to protect these precious historical sites from Israeli attacks.
The Israeli strike targeted the parking lot of the Roman temple, just a few meters from the temples of Bacchus and Jupiter, without causing any visible damage at first glance. However, the governor of the region fears the potential consequences on the historical monuments, stressing the importance of conducting thorough inspections to assess internal damage.
Unfortunately, other buildings were affected, such as the Menchiyé building from the Ottoman era, reduced to nothing, and the Palmyra Hotel, full of history and memories, damaged by the attack. These material losses echo a deeper attack, that of the memory of a people and its cultural heritage.
The governor of Baalbek denounces this “war against history” waged by the Israelis, stressing that the history and culture of Lebanon are in danger. He recalls that even during past periods of war, Lebanese cultural heritage had been preserved, unlike the current situation.
Lebanese MPs alert UNESCO to the urgency of the situation, calling for the protection of these cultural treasures threatened by Israeli strikes. The Baalbek International Festival also calls on international organizations to safeguard this emblematic archaeological site, witness to 11,000 years of history.
The festival president stresses the importance of protecting these Phoenician, Roman and Arab remains, and warns of the potential damage caused by the ongoing attacks on the ancient site. Every hour that passes could jeopardize this exceptional heritage, calling for a rapid mobilization of UNESCO to avoid its imminent destruction.
In these times of conflict and destruction, it is essential to preserve the collective memory and witnesses of the past for future generations. The world must stand together to protect these historical and cultural treasures, symbols of humanity and its diversity.