Afrasianet - The statement called for "the protection of Lebanon's cultural monuments and historic cities, including the ancient city of Baalbek, the Phoenician city of Tyre, the historical sites of Sidon and the vital cultural heritage of Beirut and Tripoli.

After the enemy tried to target some monuments and heritage houses in Lebanon, the group "Workers in Culture and Art" submitted an electronic statement to UNESCO, world leaders and the international community calling for "an immediate ceasefire and an end to the destruction of Gaza and Lebanon."

 In addition, the statement called for "the protection of cultural monuments and historical cities in Lebanon, including the ancient city of Baalbek, the Phoenician city of Tyre, the historical sites of Sidon and the vital cultural heritage of Beirut and Tripoli..."

The statement pointed out that the targeting of these sites and civilians is a major war crime and that these sites are "at risk from the ongoing Israeli aggression, which are inherited and preserved cities for thousands of years," and the systematic and deliberate targeting of civilizational centers, cultural monuments and civilian infrastructure "aims to erase the history and identity of an entire people, which is an attempt to destabilize societies, exercise control and spread fear."

The statement not only called for the protection of cultural monuments, but also called for "an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon," "accountability for Israel for the war crimes it committed in Gaza and Lebanon," and "diplomatic pressure on Israel to cease its acts of aggression and respect international laws related to the protection of civilians and cultural heritage."

He also called for "immediate assistance for the reconstruction of destroyed or damaged urban centres and cultural heritage sites."

The group's statement came after a raid targeted a point near the ancient castle of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, in addition to the enemy targeting several heritage houses, including a house in the city of Nabatieh (southern Lebanon) about 100 years old. At the time of writing, more than 486 individuals have signed the petition.

On Thursday, Israeli occupation soldiers booby-trapped entire neighborhoods of the historic town of Muhaibib, which includes the 2,000-year-old Binyamin bin Yaqoub archaeological shrine, the mosque attached to it and traditional houses before withdrawing .

Two days ago, a Lebanese official reported that the archaeological site of the Dome of Durres was damaged by Israeli shelling at the southern entrance to Baalbek.