Israel’s Airstrikes in Baalbek

 **Understanding Lebanon’s Ancient City of Baalbek and Israel's Recent Attacks**

Amid ongoing conflict, Israel recently ordered a citywide evacuation in Baalbek, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. Following the order, airstrikes targeted the city and nearby villages. These actions come as Israel intensifies its campaign against Lebanon, which began in late September. Tens of thousands of residents have been displaced from Baalbek, the largest city in eastern Lebanon, in response to Israel's warnings of forthcoming strikes on targets associated with the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Reports from the ground depict a chaotic scene. According to Roula Zeaiter, a program manager for the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL), residents evacuated quickly, locking up homes and shops. Many of Baalbek’s neighborhoods, some of which were already sheltering families displaced from southern Lebanon, were emptied as people fled the city in a hurry. “Lebanon is becoming like Gaza, with Israeli forces using the same tactics,” Zeaiter said, emphasizing the desperation and disarray among locals.

Following the evacuation order on Wednesday, airstrikes hit Baalbek and surrounding areas, resulting in the tragic loss of nineteen lives, including eight women, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

Baalbek: A City Rich in History and Culture

Baalbek, once an ancient Phoenician city, is home to one of the world’s best-preserved Roman temple complexes, including the iconic Temple of Bacchus. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, Baalbek’s temples stand as some of the finest examples of Imperial Roman architecture, attracting global tourism. 

This tourism, alongside traditional crafts such as rug-making, copperwork, and agriculture, sustains the local economy. However, recent attacks threaten both the people and the cultural heritage of Baalbek. Some residents have taken shelter in the temples, hoping that their UNESCO heritage status might afford some measure of protection from further attacks.

As violence intensifies, the future of Baalbek, both as a historical treasure and a community, remains uncertain. The city’s residents, facing another layer of displacement and destruction, stand at the crossroads of a deeply rooted cultural past and a precarious present.