Deliberate destruction of heritage… Protesters comment on Israeli bombing of Baalbek city

Activists on social media expressed their dissatisfaction with Israel’s raid on the Lebanese city of Baalbek, and described what Israel is doing as the destruction of heritage, not just the killing and displacement of civilians. residence

Baalbek in eastern Lebanon is referred to as the “city of the sun” and the “icon of antiquity” in Lebanon, as it is the result of many civilizations that passed through it, from the Phoenicians to the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Ayyubids, Mongols, Mamluks and Ottomans. It also includes Roman temples that were included by UNESCO on the World Heritage List in 1984.

The Lebanese Emergency Committee announced that 101 Israeli airstrikes were recorded in the past 24 hours on various areas of Lebanon, most of them in the south and Nabatieh, with a greater focus on Baalbek.

The occupation army included the city – which represents part of Lebanon’s cultural heritage – to its list of targets, which expands day by day. A series of raids were carried out on Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, and nearby villages yesterday, Wednesday. Lebanese media said that these raids included residential neighborhoods in the city.

On the other hand, the Israeli army said it targeted fuel depots inside military bases belonging to Hezbollah’s Unit 4400, which it says is responsible for transporting weapons from Syria and Iraq to Lebanon. These strikes left 19 people dead.

The city of Baalbek is one of the largest cities in the Bhekaa.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the spokesman of the occupying army, Avichai Adraee, – on platform X – published an evacuation warning for the entire population of the city, then he returned today, Thursday, and published what he said was an “urgent warning” to the inhabitants of Baalbec, Ain Borsai, and Duruis, and they asked them to leave, and move out of the town and their towns.

Doctors Without Borders said – in a statement – that the evacuation decision issued by the Israeli forces for the city of Baalbek and its surrounding areas “forces all residents to flee” ​without enough time to do so or any guarantees of safety, and it also exposes people’s lives. to danger.”

Despite the force and violence of the Israeli strikes, the residents of Baalbek were forced to flee the city, and the platforms circulated video clips of the people of Baalbek being driven outside and go to areas that are still considered “relatively” safe in the Bekaa, such as Deir al-Ahmar, Zahle, and Arsal, even though the shelter centers there have reached their maximum level.

This Israeli target sparked a wave of discontent on social media, where Abdul Latif said: “Let the city be evacuated and deliver the civilians under the aerial bombardment of a barbaric enemy who does not discriminate he failed, and he will continue the fight until the enemy is defeated and until he tastes pain and loss.”

Christine also said: “The government must solve the situation of the displaced people.. The winter has started and the world needs something to protect it from this cold.. Organizations need to help the Lebanese army to take care of the situation this world, which can be filled in the streets from one night to the next.”

As for Lily Nabulsi, she said: “It’s better not to get fired while they’re there. Then I give the hero freedom of movement. I have nothing to fear. At the same time, Abu Wissam said: “Oh, it is forbidden to Lebanon and it is forbidden to you, Baalbak. The profession wants to end our heritage and end the civilizations that have invaded our countries because they are uncivilized and land thieves.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric warned that cultural heritage, which cannot be restored, is often destroyed during conflict, and called for its protection in Lebanon.