The Maqam of the Shamaa citadel, destroyed by Israeli strikes. (Credit: Haidar Hawila)
BEIRUT — Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh on Friday toured archaeological sites in Sour and neighboring villages that were damaged by Israeli attacks, including the Shamaa citadel, according to the state-run National News Agency.
During his visit, he pledged to work on reconstruction in coordination with international organizations, including UNESCO.
Funding for Reconstruction
Salameh was accompanied by Director General of Antiquities Sarkis al-Khoury and the director of archaeological sites in the South, Ali Badawi.
“I came to inspect the impact of the Israeli war on Lebanon, not just on the South or the Shiite community, and to determine what can be done — especially after seeing the damage to the Shamaa citadel and the shrine of Prophet Shamoun al-Safa,” Salameh said.
Located in the western border sector, Shamaa, and its citadel was one of the furthest points in Lebanese territory that the Israeli army reached during its ground offensive.
"The government is working toward reconstruction despite the difficult circumstances and is seeking funding. This effort requires everyone’s cooperation," Salameh said.
‘Burning the Possibility of Life’
Salameh then visited Shamaa, where he toured the remains of the citadel. "What we witnessed — the systematic destruction of the Shamaa citadel and homes in this village — is sheer devastation aimed at burning the possibility of life," he said.
He accused Israel of attempting to loot the citadel and other historical sites, adding, "Ten sites have been destroyed by Israel. This is a war crime."
Salameh said he would arrange for a UNESCO committee to assess the damage and initiate reconstruction. He also noted that heritage laws require the formation of a specialized committee to work with municipalities and follow up with government agencies.
More than 4,000 people were killed in Lebanon in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in October 2023, escalated in September 2024, and ended with a cease-fire in late November.
UNESCO’s ‘Provisional Reinforced Protection’
In an extraordinary meeting in November, UNESCO placed 34 cultural sites in Lebanon under "provisional reinforced protection" due to the threat of Israeli bombardments. The strikes primarily targeted Baalbeck in the east and Sour in the south, both home to UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Before the meeting, 300 cultural professionals, including archaeologists and academics, signed a petition urging UNESCO to protect Lebanon’s heritage, particularly in Baalbeck.
The culture minister rounded off his visit to Sour with a tour of the municipality's headquarters, where he discussed "heritage-related issues" with the head of the Municipal Council, Hassan Dbouk, in the presence of MP Inaya Ezzeddine.