{"id":874,"date":"2026-05-20T20:41:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/05\/20\/the-aim-is-to-erase-our-identity-how-south-lebanons-cultural-heritage-is-going-up-in-smoke\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:41:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:41:03","slug":"the-aim-is-to-erase-our-identity-how-south-lebanons-cultural-heritage-is-going-up-in-smoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=874","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The aim is to erase our identity\u2019: How south Lebanon\u2019s cultural heritage is going up in smoke"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--banner-top o-ad-container--with-shimmer o-ad-container--with-background\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><br \/>\n                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-type=\"sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-status=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring__wrapper\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content t-content--article\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-sidebar\">\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">\u2018The aim is to erase our identity\u2019: How south Lebanon\u2019s cultural heritage is going up in smoke<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        The Israeli Army is accused of destroying important cultural and religious sites as part of its widespread demolition campaign in southern Lebanon. The NGO Green Southerners has been documenting the destruction of churches, mosques and archaeological sites and denounces what they say is a calculated attack on the historic link between locals and their homeland.\u00a0                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-05-20T20:22:23+00:00\">20\/05\/2026 &#8211; 22:22<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-reading-time\">\n    <span class=\"a-reading-time__icon\" title=\"Reading time\"><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span><br \/>\n    8 min    <span class=\"u-sr-only\">Reading time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/the-france-24-observers\/\" title=\"The FRANCE 24 Observers\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                The FRANCE 24 Observers<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                                    <span class=\"m-from-author__separator\">\/<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/djamel-belayachi\/\" title=\"Djamel BELAYACHI\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Djamel BELAYACHI<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:388\/p:16x9\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:720\/p:16x9\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"These satellite images show the Shamoun Al Safa sanctuary. In the image at left, taken on April 11, 2026, the building is still standing - you can identify it from its distinctive white domes. \" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>These satellite images show the Shamoun Al Safa sanctuary. In the image at left, taken on April 11, 2026, the building is still standing \u2013 you can identify it from its distinctive white domes. In the image at right, taken April 17, the building is gone. <\/span>                <span>\u00a9 Legal agenda, Green southerners, OnGeo Intelligence.<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p>It\u2019s been a month since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Israel<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/lebanon\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Lebanon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east-what-to-expect-from-the-truce-between-lebanon-and-israel\" target=\"_self\"><u>agreed to a ceasefire<\/u><\/a> on April 19. During that time, the Israeli army has been working to establish what it calls a \u201cforward defence zone\u201d in southern Lebanon\u00a0\u2013 an area that it says it wants to turn into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/thousands-of-lebanese-trapped-behind-israeli-frontlines-rely-on-humanitarian-aid\" target=\"_self\"><u>&#8220;buffer zone\u201d to thwart future Hezbollah attacks.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) banned Lebanese civilians from entering this area encompassing 55 villages. And, in the meantime, the IDF has been carrying out widespread demolition\u00a0\u2013 using bulldozers and dynamite to destroy buildings and sometimes even entire villages.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Israeli authorities claim that they have \u201cno intention to strike civilian infrastructure or religious buildings\u201d but are seeking to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/liveblog_entry\/idf-causes-damage-to-catholic-convent-in-south-lebanon-army-acknowledges-says-has-no-intention-of-harming-religious-buildings\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>demolish Hezbollah infrastructure<\/u><\/a> in southern Lebanon, as Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AvichayAdraee\/status\/2050568999541317834\" target=\"_blank\">said in an X publication<\/a> on May 2.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, Lebanese NGO Green Southerners has been sharing photos on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/greensoutherners\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Facebook<\/u><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GreenSoutherns\" target=\"_blank\"><u>X<\/u><\/a> that document the destruction of religious structures, historic sites and other important cultural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/heritage\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">heritage<\/a> sites in the region.<\/p>\n<h2>Convent destroyed<\/h2>\n<p>One site that has been destroyed is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/fr\/moyen-orient\/20260507-sud-liban-une-photo-prouve-la-destruction-d-un-couvent-%C3%A0-yaroun-malgr%C3%A9-les-d%C3%A9mentis-isra%C3%A9liens\" target=\"_self\"><u>convent and school run by the Salvatorian Sisters<\/u><\/a> in the village of Yaroun, which <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GreenSoutherns\/status\/2051685485970403719\" target=\"_blank\"><u>was bulldozed<\/u><\/a> on May 1\u00a0\u2013 as documented by images that contradict <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/liveblog_entry\/idf-causes-damage-to-catholic-convent-in-south-lebanon-army-acknowledges-says-has-no-intention-of-harming-religious-buildings\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>denials<\/u><\/a> issued by the Israeli military.<\/p>\n<div id=\"em-WBMZ549167-F24-EN-20260514\" class=\"m-em-flash\" data-xtwitter-script><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                    This post by the NGO Green Southerners features photos documenting the destruction on May 1 of the building that housed the school and convent run by the Basilian Salvatorian Sisters in the village of Yaroun in southern Lebanon.<br \/>\n                <\/figcaption><div class=\"o-em-consent \">\n<div class=\"o-em-consent__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-consent__content__text\">To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.<\/p>\n<p>        <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"accept\"><br \/>\n            Accept<\/p>\n<p>        <\/button><br \/>\n        <button class=\"a-link\" data-action=\"manage\">Manage my choices<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hicham Youn\u00e8s, who runs the NGO Green Southerners, explains:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quote\">\n<p>&#8220;We were informed of the operation the day it happened because eyewitnesses were capturing images of the destruction as they watched it unfold.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The army admitted that they had \u201cdamaged\u201d a building in the complex but said \u201cit had no external signs indicating it was a religious building.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Youn\u00e8s, however, doesn\u2019t buy these claims.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quote\">\n<p>&#8220;Israeli forces occupied this zone for many years before it was liberated in 2000 [Editor\u2019s note: when Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon after 15 years of occupation], so they know both where these buildings are and what they are used for.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In the same vein, the claim that the occupying forces are making the effort to avoid targeting structures with religious or cultural importance does not correspond with what is being documented on the ground in a large number of border villages, including the village of Yaroun.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Less than 400 metres from the Salvatorian Sisters convent, the village\u2019s historic church, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DAym_YWP6RR\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Saint George<\/u><\/a>, which was built in the 19th century, was seriously damaged during Israeli strikes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com.tr\/en\/middle-east\/factbox-israeli-attacks-kill-priest-damage-7-churches-jesus-statue-in-lebanon\/3913577\" target=\"_blank\"><u>October 2023<\/u><\/a>, and then again in the <a href=\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/church-picks-up-pieces-as-war-lingers\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>autumn of 2024<\/u><\/a>. Yaroun is home to both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/christians\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Christians<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/shiite\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Shiite<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/muslims\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Muslims<\/a>;\u00a0the Israeli army also destroyed the village\u2019s main mosque, Imam Ali mosque\u00a0\u2013 which also dates from the 19th century\u00a0\u2013 while carrying out a ground offensive in the region in October 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo\/?fbid=1393375736153697&amp;set=a.625761616248450&amp;locale=fr_FR\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Green Southerners<\/u><\/a> published before and after images of the mosque that document the extent of the destruction carried out using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reels\/DAym_YWP6RR\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>explosives<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"em-WBMZ549165-F24-EN-20260514\" class=\"m-em-flash\" data-facebook-script><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                    These two before-and-after images show the destruction of Saint George Church as well as the village mosque, whose minaret is missing from the second image. A number of nearby houses were also destroyed. Source: Green Southerners<br \/>\n                <\/figcaption><div class=\"o-em-consent \">\n<div class=\"o-em-consent__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-consent__content__text\">To display this content from Facebook, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.<\/p>\n<p>        <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"accept\"><br \/>\n            Accept<\/p>\n<p>        <\/button><br \/>\n        <button class=\"a-link\" data-action=\"manage\">Manage my choices<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Youn\u00e8s continues:\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quote\">\n<p>&#8220;Many buildings and neighbourhoods that managed to escape destruction in the intensive bombing that has taken place since October 2023 have now been destroyed in the systematic demolition campaign that the Israeli army has been waging since it entered the region.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>A thousand-year-old sanctuary wiped from the map\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Youn\u00e8s is also devastated by the destruction of the Shamoun al-Safa sanctuary, one of the most remarkable religious and historic sites in southern Lebanon. Located in the village of Chamaa in the Tyr district, this Shiite sanctuary\u00a0\u2013 which also includes a mosque\u00a0\u2013 is said to hold the grave of Saint Peter, according to local tradition. It was reportedly built in 1097.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The site was first seriously damaged during an Israeli ground offensive in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebeiruter.com\/article\/the-shrine-that-outlived-empires%E2%80%A6-until-it-didnt\/1572\" target=\"_blank\"><u>November 2024<\/u><\/a>. Israeli forces <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/16\/middleeast\/israel-beirut-strikes-ceasefire-lebanon-intl\" target=\"_blank\">placed <u>explosives<\/u><\/a> inside the citadel and detonated them, later claiming that they were <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/16\/middleeast\/israel-beirut-strikes-ceasefire-lebanon-intl\" target=\"_blank\"><u>targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.<\/u><\/a> A neighbouring medieval castle, more than 900 years old, is thought to have been destroyed at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When the Israeli army pulled out of the region, locals carried out restoration work on the sanctuary. The domes, a key feature of the building, were partially repaired.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"m-em-image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalAgenda\/posts\/pfbid02VwzrYEcXwo2gJbXrCrLADUhwmFn6dGF3K1TKmibnjeV4AeiXRE5iLFhJE74Sa8jUl\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--original m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f52ae39a-4fa6-11f1-924d-005056bfb2b6\/w:980\/photos-domes-before-after.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f52ae39a-4fa6-11f1-924d-005056bfb2b6\/w:246\/photos-domes-before-after.jpg 246w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f52ae39a-4fa6-11f1-924d-005056bfb2b6\/w:388\/photos-domes-before-after.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f52ae39a-4fa6-11f1-924d-005056bfb2b6\/w:720\/photos-domes-before-after.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f52ae39a-4fa6-11f1-924d-005056bfb2b6\/w:980\/photos-domes-before-after.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px\" alt=\"The image at the left shows the Shamoun al-Safa sanctuary, which was damaged during the Israeli ground offensive carried out in November 2024. The image at right shows the site after the sanctuary was partially restored in 2025.\" style=\"max-height:478px\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>The image at the left shows the Shamoun al-Safa sanctuary, which was damaged during the Israeli ground offensive carried out in November 2024. The image at right shows the site after the sanctuary was partially restored in 2025.<\/span>                <span>\u00a9 Facebook, Legal agenda<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>        <\/a> <\/p>\n<p>But satellite images obtained by both Green Southerners and Lebanese media outlets on April 13, 2026 seem to show that the site has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo\/?fbid=1481458847350262&amp;set=pcb.1481462944016519\" target=\"_blank\"><u>razed to the ground<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-em-image\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--original m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:980\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:246\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png 246w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:388\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:720\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/f35c100e-504e-11f1-a554-005056a97e36\/w:980\/dome-avant-apr%C3%A8s-carre-rouge.png 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px\" alt=\"These satellite images show the Shamoun Al Safa sanctuary. In the image at left, taken on April 11, 2026, the building is still standing\u2014 you can identify it from its distinctive white domes. In the image at right, taken April 17, the building is gone.\" style=\"max-height:478px\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>These satellite images show the Shamoun Al Safa sanctuary. In the image at left, taken on April 11, 2026, the building is still standing\u2014 you can identify it from its distinctive white domes. In the image at right, taken April 17, the building is gone.<\/span>                <span>\u00a9 Legal agenda, Green southerners, OnGeo Intelligence.<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"em-WBMZ549164-F24-EN-20260514\" class=\"m-em-flash\" data-facebook-script><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                    Lebanese photographer Ali Ezzedine published images which he says were taken on April 12 and 13 showing the destruction of the Shamoun al-Safa sanctuary.<br \/>\n                <\/figcaption><div class=\"o-em-consent \">\n<div class=\"o-em-consent__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-consent__content__text\">To display this content from Facebook, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.<\/p>\n<p>        <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"accept\"><br \/>\n            Accept<\/p>\n<p>        <\/button><br \/>\n        <button class=\"a-link\" data-action=\"manage\">Manage my choices<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Aside from its religious significance, this building was also an important part of the region\u2019s cultural heritage, Youn\u00e8s says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quote\">\n<p>\u201cWhat is happening is part of a wider strategy, a methodical process of ripping out memory, identity and the historic relationship between people and their environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Deliberately targeting religious and cultural sites, which are protected under international law, represents a serious violation of international law and constitutes a war crime, but the international community remains silent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Back in November 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unesco.org\/en\/culture\/cultural-property-under-enhanced-protection-lebanon\" target=\"_blank\"><u>UNESCO said that it would offer<\/u><\/a> the Chaama citadel and 34 other sites in Lebanon enhanced protection.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Al-Qantara mosque destroyed\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/5227914337434414\" target=\"_blank\"><u>A historic mosque<\/u><\/a> in Al-Qantara, another village that falls within the boundaries of Israel\u2019s \u201cforward defence zone\u201d, was also destroyed during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo?fbid=10173915653320153&amp;set=a.10150408706635153*\" target=\"_blank\"><u>these operations<\/u><\/a>, according to a post by Green Southerners on May 4. The mosque is thought to have been built during the 14th century. It was restored in the middle of the 20th century and then again in 2014.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Youn\u00e8s explains:\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quote\">\n<p>\u201cThe satellite images, photos and videos that we published show the extent of the destruction in the village: it\u2019s been very nearly razed. There are a few buildings on the outskirts of the village, but it is important to specify that we\u2019ve observed that the occupiers tend to target the historic centre of towns and villages.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You can clearly see this in videos shared by the occupiers themselves. It\u2019s very clear to us that the main objective is to erase a town\u2019s identity, to erase the town in such a way that its cultural heritage is destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"m-em-image\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--original m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/ec03626e-4fa7-11f1-89ae-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/qantara-new-avant-apres-carre-rouge.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/ec03626e-4fa7-11f1-89ae-005056bf30b7\/w:246\/qantara-new-avant-apres-carre-rouge.png 246w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/ec03626e-4fa7-11f1-89ae-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/qantara-new-avant-apres-carre-rouge.png 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/ec03626e-4fa7-11f1-89ae-005056bf30b7\/w:720\/qantara-new-avant-apres-carre-rouge.png 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/ec03626e-4fa7-11f1-89ae-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/qantara-new-avant-apres-carre-rouge.png 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px\" alt=\"At left is a Google satellite image showing the village of Al-Qantara with the mosque in the town centre. In the image at right, published on May 3, you can see that the mosque has disappeared.\" style=\"max-height:478px\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>At left is a Google satellite image showing the village of Al-Qantara with the mosque in the town centre. In the image at right, published on May 3, you can see that the mosque has disappeared.<\/span>                <span>\u00a9 Facebook \/  Hassan Sabra, OnGeo Intelligence<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Uncertainty remains about one of the country\u2019s oldest wells in Al-Taybeh<\/h2>\n<p>Al-Taybeh, a village that has a number of traditional homes, is located five kilometres from the Israeli border. Videos and satellite images show the mass destruction of historic buildings and homes\u00a0\u2013 at least 400, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cdxkk1vnp57o\" target=\"_blank\"><u>BBC<\/u><\/a> investigation published April 16, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A video posted by Israeli army spokesman <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AvichayAdraee\/status\/2041128350379376962\/video\/1\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Avichay Adraee<\/u><\/a> shows large explosions on April 6. In his post, he says that forces from the Golani brigade were working to enlarge the \u201csecurity zone\u201d and destroy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/hezbollah\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Hezbollah<\/a> infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Youn\u00e8s is worried for the <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%86_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%A8%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Taybeh well<\/u><\/a>, one of the oldest water sources in southern Lebanon, which was built in the Roman or Byzantine era.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"m-em-image\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AvichayAdraee\/status\/2041128350379376962\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--original m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/64c2ead4-4fa9-11f1-94a5-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/puits-apres-detonation.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/64c2ead4-4fa9-11f1-94a5-005056bf30b7\/w:246\/puits-apres-detonation.png 246w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/64c2ead4-4fa9-11f1-94a5-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/puits-apres-detonation.png 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/64c2ead4-4fa9-11f1-94a5-005056bf30b7\/w:720\/puits-apres-detonation.png 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/64c2ead4-4fa9-11f1-94a5-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/puits-apres-detonation.png 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px\" alt=\"In this video posted by the Israeli army on April 6, 2026, you can see two explosions (at 10\u201d) on either side of the Taybeh well. Geocoordinates: 33.275961\u00b0N, 35.518365\u00b0E.\" style=\"max-height:461px\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>In this video posted by the Israeli army on April 6, 2026, you can see two explosions (at 10\u201d) on either side of the Taybeh well. Geocoordinates: 33.275961\u00b0N, 35.518365\u00b0E.<\/span>                <span>\u00a9 X, AvichayAdraee<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>        <\/a> <\/p>\n<h2>\u2018Explosives were detonated along the entire perimeter\u2019\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Youn\u00e8s says:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quote\">\n<p>\u201cThe Taybeh well is one of the most beautiful cultural and archaeological sites in the region. It\u2019s hundreds of years old and built as a spiral. A spiral staircase takes you down 15 metres or more below the earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is one of the remnants believed to be of Romano-Byzantine origin, serving as a testament to the site&#8217;s identity and historical significance. Unfortunately, explosives were detonated along the entire perimeter and we don\u2019t know today where the wells are. The explosions might have damaged it \u2013\u00a0but we don\u2019t know the extent.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Alongside Qantara and Yaroun, Taybeh is one of the iconic villages in Jabal Amel, a historic region in southern Lebanon which is considered the cradle of Twelver Shi\u2019ism, one of the most ancient communities in the Arab world.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Youn\u00e8s says that most of this cultural heritage has been lost in the mass destruction of these villages:\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"quote\">\n<p>\u201cJabal Amel is a culturally rich region. The churches, mosques, hussayniyya [Editor\u2019s note: a gathering place for Shiite Muslims], traditional homes with stone arches, windmills, squares and ancient markets are not just buildings. They are living memories that belong to families and villages. They represent both seasons of nature and of life, like the pressing of olives or the tobacco harvest, as well as weddings and funeral wakes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When the home of your ancestors is razed, people don\u2019t just lose the roof over their heads. They lose a witness to their existence and their history of living on this land. And when a church, a mosque or a convent is destroyed, the message to people who were forced out of their homes goes beyond just material destruction. It\u2019s a message that the possibility of any kind of return is now threatened, not just because of security reasons, but because of symbolic and psychological reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A number of social media initiatives have emerged in order to attempt to preserve the memory of these cultural heritage sites, such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/jabalamelah.blogspot.com\/2026\/04\/2026.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawRqoelleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBaOTA4SlJNeEVOYWdEVHpOc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHovBuzBsQHiLPLuTZ0QxYO2OebiYtcuA_EVi-b15heof1Ek-9cj_dnjDVDYq_aem_1PAnA9wsKSOss-jCK51wOA\" target=\"_blank\"><u>this blog<\/u><\/a> that lists religious sites destroyed in Jabal Amel\u00a0\u2013 including the Bint Jbeil Mosque, built in the Ottoman period, and the mosque in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02KewnSYZM2ki8abwVPaCfGrrHtryzNtUmnU1vRrSMU8GHhZttUGpXNUV5fcXAqUrbl&amp;id=100063836071547\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Zrarieh<\/u><\/a>, which was built two centuries ago.<\/p>\n<p>Bombings have also taken place near <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/unesco\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">UNESCO<\/a> world heritage sites such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reels\/DWVCF5fjFu4\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Tyr<\/u><\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/greensoutherners\/posts\/pfbid0UnPykJQuCUwQVpPnzxciNW35MK7U2CX4YMHCUXnQBBaiaKUezMncfFkMRuHxY6qKl\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Baalbek<\/u><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 though, for the time being, neither site seems to have been seriously damaged.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In Tyr, an Israeli strike caused damage just a few metres from the entrance to the Roman necropolis Al-Bass on March 6. The area near the entrance of the site was damaged, but the important historic site was not directly hit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>UNESCO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unesco.org\/en\/culture\/cultural-property-under-enhanced-protection-lebanon\" target=\"_blank\"><u>announced<\/u><\/a> on April 1 that they were granting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unesco.org\/en\/articles\/lebanon-39-cultural-properties-placed-under-enhanced-protection\" target=\"_blank\"><u>temporary reinforced protection to 39 cultural sites<\/u><\/a>, as well as international financial aid for emergency operations on the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>One of the protective measures entails setting up so-called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/912118628474649\" target=\"_blank\"><u>&#8220;blue shields\u201d<\/u><\/a> at 34 archaeological and cultural sites to make them more visible to armed forces.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>This article has been translated from <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/fr\/moyen-orient\/20260514-objectif-est-effacer-notre-identit%C3%A9-au-sud-liban-patrimoine-part-en-fum%C3%A9e-sanctuaires-mosquees-sites-archeologiques-israel\" target=\"_self\"><em><u>the original in French<\/u><\/em><\/a><em> by Brenna Daldorph.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><br \/>\n                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/the-observers\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"The Observers\">    The Observers<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/lebanon\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Lebanon\">    Lebanon<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Israel\">    Israel<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/heritage\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"heritage\">    heritage<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/religion\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"religion\">    religion<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/culture\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"culture\">    culture<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertising \u2018The aim is to erase our identity\u2019: How south Lebanon\u2019s cultural heritage is going&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}