And confront Baalbek CastleOn Wednesday, as in previous days, there were multiple threats, including the risk of bombing that could cause serious damage, directly or indirectly, after evacuation orders issued by him. Israeli army To the city of Baalbek, he followed it with dozens of raids.
Perhaps the most prominent of these threats was the bombing that targeted, on Monday, the area where the citadel is located, near the wall of the historic “Gouraud Barracks,” which is considered part of the citadel, according to a statement by the mayor of Baalbek, Mustafa Al-Shall, to Sky News Arabia.
In the past few days and also on Wednesday, after the Israeli evacuation order “immediately”, national and international campaigns were launched to protect the citadel, focusing on increasing awareness of the importance of the historical Baalbek Citadel, in addition to initiatives to continuously restore it to ensure its survival and protect it from dangers other than Warlike pollution And natural factors.
In the crossfire
The map he published appears Israeli armythat the areas covered by the evacuation order Roman ruins.
Private sources in the Lebanese Ministry of Culture told Sky News Arabia that there is cooperation between the Ministry and international organizations, such as UNESCOTo help develop protection and awareness strategies regarding the castle.
She indicated that Lebanese forces are working to secure the surroundings of the castle from any threats.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Minister of Culture in the Lebanese caretaker government, Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, sent an appeal to the Security Council and the international community to “deter Israel from carrying out its threats to bomb Baalbek Citadel,” noting that this landmark is considered a global cultural heritage listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Al-Murtada said: “The Israeli threat reflects the same mentality that destroyed Buddha statues. The international community must treat Israel on this basis.”
The Minister also alerted visitors to the castle, its workers, and those residing near it to the necessity of evacuating the area and taking all precautions.
Stay away from the castle!
Al-Shall asked the city’s residents not to go to the citadel to take shelter there, explaining that “the Israeli army does not distinguish between cultural, health, or media goals.”
The mayor of Baalbek added: “We ask the people to go to safer places, as the citadel, despite its inclusion on the World Heritage List, faces great dangers due to the current circumstances.” He also pointed out that the raid that targeted the Gouraud Barracks, on Monday, was only 10 meters away. From the castle wall, killing 7 people who were displaced to the city.
Khaled Al-Rifai from the General Directorate of Antiquities in Lebanon expressed his regret about the evacuation of the city due to the increasing threats.
He stressed that “Baalbek Castle is covered by international protection under the Hague Convention of 1952, which guarantees the protection of historical monuments during conflicts.”
Al-Rifai concluded by saying: “We left the castle under the protection of the security forces, international conventions, and God’s protection.”
