The world community and UNESCO, in particular, are obliged to take prompt measures to prevent Israeli attacks on the ancient Roman temple complex in Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, the Minister of Culture in the interim government of the country, Mohamad Mourtada, said, addressing the UN Security Council.
⠀
“If there is any conscience left in this world, let them prevent Israel from its intention to attack the temple complex in Baalbek, which represents a world cultural value included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list. This applies not only to Lebanon, but to all humanity,” Murtada said.
⠀
The minister appealed to the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to UNESCO in Paris with a demand to urgently send complaints to the organization and conduct the necessary negotiations in order to prevent attacks on the complex in Baalbek.
⠀
The Minister of Culture also held unscheduled talks with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri and Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Earlier, the representative of the Israeli army, Avichai Adrai, on his page on the social network X, called on residents of the city of Baalbek to immediately leave their homes due to the readiness of Israeli aircraft to carry out strikes on alleged Hezbollah targets in the city.
⠀
Baalbek is the largest Roman temple complex that has survived to this day, and the main attraction of modern Lebanon. The complex includes three main temples located on historical grounds near the center of the modern city of Baalbek.
