A crown was blown off an ancient column in a UNESCO-listed site in Lebanon’s port city of Tyre. A pilgrimage site for Muslims and Christians alike was ‌destroyed in another southern town. Israeli strikes pummelled the Mamluk-era market in the city of Nabatieh and troops razed centuries-old Lebanese border towns.

Israel’s nearly four-month air and ground campaign, which it says was targeting ⁠Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, has damaged or destroyed revered heritage sites across southern Lebanon, Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame told Reuters.

Despite a ceasefire that took hold a week ago, authorities have yet to build a full picture of the damage as Israeli troops still occupy a zone ‌about 10 km (6.2 miles) deep into Lebanon that is off-limits to Lebanese, Mr. Salame said.

“We cannot work under the shadow of occupation,” he said.

That occupation zone includes the medieval Beaufort Castle as well as centuries-old villages ‌that were home to Christians, Shi’ite Muslims and Sunni Muslims and their places of worship.

-Reuters