The conflict between Israel and Lebanon continues to intensify, with devastating consequences for the Lebanese people and their cultural heritage. Overnight, Israel carried out at least 17 airstrikes on southern suburbs of Beirut, with Lebanese officials describing attacks as the most violent in recent weeks. Among the targets were buildings belonging to Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese news station, and tragically, three Lebanese soldiers were killed in a separate Israeli strike in the south. Calls for a ceasefire from the international community, including France, have so far gone unheeded by Israel, which continues its bombardment of Lebanon.
The City of Tyre, one of the oldest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site has been severely damaged by recent strikes. Rima Majed, an assistant professor of sociology at the American University of Beirut, highlighted the historical significance of Tyre and archaeological sites like Baalbek, which have also been hit. Majed pointed out that the ruins, which have withstood the test of thousands of years, are now under direct threat from modern warfare. She lamented the lack of global outcry for the destruction of Lebanon’s cultural legacy, comparing it to a more vocal international reaction when historical sites in Iraq or Syria were targeted.
Majed also criticized the broader response to conflict, particularly humanitarian aid pledged by countries like France, which hosted an international aid conference this week. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that over $100 million in humanitarian aid would be sent to Lebanon. While such pledges are seen as necessary for addressing immediate needs, Majed questioned the hypocrisy of countries supplying aid while simultaneously selling arms to Israel, enabling ongoing destruction.
“This is the hypocrisy of the global system,” Majed stated. “Many of those countries sending humanitarian aid are also profiting from the arms industry, which fuels war. The cost of this conflict is not just measured in lives lost but in the destruction of dreams, livelihoods, and centuries-old social and cultural fabrics.”
The situation in Lebanon has become increasingly precarious, with social tensions rising as displacement and conflict disrupt communities. Despite talk of the possibility of civil war, Majed emphasized that wars are political decisions, not simply the result of societal fractures. “Civil wars don’t happen because of social tension alone. Re are always political forces behind me, both regional and international,” she noted. Majed pointed to the role of external actors, questioning which countries or groups might back a civil war in Lebanon and fund the arming of factions.
Recent Israeli airstrikes have not only targeted civilians but also critical infrastructure. One of the most concerning incidents was the bombing of Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Lebanon’s largest public medical facility, which resulted in the deaths of 13 people, including a child. An additional 60 people were injured in the attack, which caused significant damage to the hospital. Meanwhile, Al-Sahel Hospital in southern Beirut was evacuated after Israeli military claims—disputed by doctors—that Hezbollah was hiding gold and cash beneath the hospital. Reporters were taken on a tour of the hospital’s lower floors to refute the allegations, further emphasizing the tension between military actions and civilian safety.
Majed condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure, calling them a violation of international law and human rights. “Re is no justification for targeting hospitals or financial institutions, even if y is linked to Hezbollah,” she said. “If we were gold and money hidden, why bomb it? This is not warfare; this is terrorism.”
Targeting of financial institutions, such as the Al-Qard al-Hassan Association, also reveals a broader strategy by Israel to dismantle Hezbollah’s social network. Israel has shifted from solely targeting Hezbollah leadership to attacking institutions that provide services to Lebanese civilians, many of whom are not combatants but supporters of Hezbollah. Majed pointed out that such attacks only serve to deepen sectarian divides and increase suffering among ordinary citizens.
As conflict escalates, international efforts to broker peace seem increasingly distant. While French President Macron and global leaders have reiterated their calls for a ceasefire, Israel remains defiant, continuing its military campaign in Lebanon. Amos Hochstein, a U.S. diplomat with ties to Israeli Defense Forces, suggested that the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Lebanon War, could be key to ending this current round of hostilities. However, Majed expressed skepticism, noting that broader geopolitical factors, including the Abraham Accords and shifting alliances in the Middle East, complicate any potential resolution to the conflict.
In the meantime, the people of Lebanon bear the brunt of war. Destruction of cultural heritage sites like Tyre, displacement of civilians, and devastation of Lebanon’s infrastructure are reshaping the nation. As Majed poignantly stated, “War is not just destroying lives; it’s erasing history and tearing apart the social fabric that has held this region together for millennia.”
The question now remains: How much more will Lebanon have to endure before the international community steps in to enforce peace? Until then, the country remains caught in the crossfire of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
