Baalbek’s antiquities are in danger –

An ‘Israeli’ airstrike destroyed a historic building in the Manshiyeh neighborhood, which dates back to the Ottoman era and lies within arms reach of the UNESCO-listed temples of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon.

The Governor of Baalbeck and Hermel, Bachir Khodr, told Reuters that the neighborhood “is a very artisanal neighborhood, typically full of tourists,” adding that no one was in the targeted building.

While there was no immediate visible damage to the temple complex, as confirmed by the castle guards, Khodr said, “We need experts – engineers and archaeologists – to come look. No one has been able to do so yet because of the strikes.”

Meanwhile, Maya Halabi of the Baalbek International Festival said that a total of three Ottoman-era sites were recently damaged by Israeli airstrikes, including the Gouraud Barracks and the Palmyra Hotel.

“The Acropolis – where the temples are – is just a few meters away. They haven’t been damaged yet and we hope that won’t happen,” Halabi told Reuters.