UNESCO to strengthen protection of 34 cultural heritage sites in Lebanon

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, says it has designated 34 cultural heritages in Lebanon under constant Israeli airstrikes for "temporary reinforcement protection."

The 'Temporary Enhanced Protection' measure aims to increase the level of protection of world heritage so that it is not used as a target of military aggression or for military purposes.

Ancient Roman sites near Baalbek in eastern Lebanon and Tyre in southern Lebanon are subject to protection.

UNESCO said in a statement that the decision "would like to signal the urgency of protecting this heritage to the entire international community."

It also warned that failure to comply with this measure would be considered a serious violation of the 1954 Hague Convention, or the Convention on the Protection of Cultural Properties in the event of armed conflict.

The move comes after hundreds of cultural experts and archaeologists urged UNESCO to take emergency protection measures to protect Lebanon's cultural heritage, AFP said.