Beirut — Hundreds of cultural professionals, including archeologists and academics, called on the United Nations to safeguard war-torn Lebanon’s heritage in a petition published Sunday ahead of a crucial UNESCO meeting. Several Israeli strikes in recent weeks on Baalbek in the east and Tyre in the south — both strongholds of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah — hit close to ancient Roman ruins designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. FILE – This picture shows closed shops on an empty street in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek on Oct. 19, 2024. The petition, signed by 300 prominent cultural figures, was sent
