People inspect the damage in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Sour, southern Lebanon, on June 2, 2026. (Credit: Aziz Taher/Reuters)
SOUTH LEBANON — Israel's bombing on the southern Lebanese city of Sour has damaged a World Heritage site, a culture ministry official told AFP on Monday, as correspondents there saw debris and damage.
One of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean coast, Sour lies around 20 kilometers from the southern Lebanese border, and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins are located in two main areas of the city.
Israel has bombed Sour particularly heavily since the re-escalation of its war on Lebanon on March 2. On Sunday it issued a further evacuation warning that covered districts including one of the archaeological areas, known as the city site, home to ancient Roman ruins.
AFP correspondents on Monday saw dust and debris close to ancient columns after the previous day's bombardment, as well as twisted metal and broken tree branches near several stone artifacts.
Concrete and metal debris also appeared to have been strewn onto a stone stairway.
Ali Badawi, regional director of archaeological sites for south Lebanon at the Culture Ministry, said Sunday's bombardment had had "the worst impact" on Sour's ancient areas since the war began.
"The amount of debris and damage at the site is high," he said, noting both the direct impact, with the site's administrative office struck, and the indirect impact of debris strewn from nearby bombardment.
"Some archaeological artifacts were damaged when rubble fell on them, as debris fell over a large area, impacting a large number of elements at the site — columns, capitals, column bases, mosaics," he said.
He said a preliminary damage assessment was underway but noted experts were not at the site due to the danger, adding that UNESCO had been notified.
Since hostilities began in 2023, UNESCO has granted more than 70 heritage sites in Lebanon, including Sour, "provisional enhanced protection," the organization's highest level of legal protection.
"This is a civilian site, a World Heritage site, it's not a military site at all, and there are no military activities there," Badawi said.
He noted the other part of the site in Sour, al-Bass, had been damaged earlier in the war.
Late last month, Lebanon's Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh told AFP that Israeli strikes on the country's south were putting heritage sites in "serious danger.
