Israeli airstrike near ancient Baalbek citadel raises concerns about archaeological site

An Israeli airstrike hit near the ancient Baalbek citadel in eastern Lebanon on Sunday, a local official reported, clarifying that the strike did not affect the site itself, which dates back thousands of years.

The Baalbek citadel, primarily from the Roman era, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

Responding to a question from Agence France-Presse about the Israeli strike near the ancient citadel, Baalbek Governor Bachir Khodr said, "The strike occurred about 500 to 700 meters from the citadel, not within the citadel or its grounds."

However, the governor warned that similar nearby strikes could have a "negative impact" on the archaeological site, "whether from the black smoke affecting the stones or from the force of the explosion," whose vibrations could impact the site, even if it was not directly targeted.