In battle, armies often rely on psychological warfare as a method of confrontation, and the direct or indirect destruction of cultural heritage falls within this tactic. What Lebanon has been experiencing for over a year now is part of a continuous psychological war, with entire villages and neighborhoods destroyed in sometimes theatrical ways, often broadcast live on numerous Arab and international news channels.

The Israeli army’s military operations in its ongoing assault on Lebanon have escalated into a full-scale war, with Lebanon’s official involvement through Hezbollah in the “support war” for Gaza’s front. The war has now expanded to encompass most Lebanese regions, with concentrated attacks on the South, the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek-Hermel, and Beirut.

As of today, it is difficult to estimate the full extent of the destruction and losses due to the dangerous situation and the difficulty in accessing many of the targeted areas. However, some news reports, images, and videos on social media give us a glimpse of the damage to heritage neighborhoods in Nabatiyeh, the collapse of a wall at the Tebnine Fortress, the destruction of shrines, churches, and mosques in several southern regions, and the continuous threat to important archaeological sites such as the Baalbek Fortress, the Tyre (Sour) sites (Al-Bass and the Port), Qubbat Duris, among others.

It is worth noting that some of these sites, such as those in Tyre and Baalbek, are listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and are protected by international conventions and laws.

Destruction of Heritage and Disruption of Social Fabric

This direct or indirect, partial or total destruction of historical and cultural sites is part of psychological warfare aimed at undermining morale and driving the “enemy” toward despair and a sense of helplessness in the face of destruction.

These strikes also aim to disrupt the social fabric of villages, towns, and working-class neighborhoods by damaging the physical structures that reinforce a sense of belonging to a place. By removing the tangible landmarks — the beautiful homes, shops, and symbols that tie people to the land containing their memories and those of their ancestors and friends — they seek to weaken communal bonds.

The collective memory of nations, shaped by historical and archaeological landmarks across various eras and civilizations, is an integral part of individual and national identity.

This national identity plays a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging to a unified homeland and in strengthening belief in a shared national cause. It helps build social and national cohesion among Lebanon’s diverse communities. Such cohesion helps dispel cultural and social differences, which are often manipulated into sectarian divides, exploited by Lebanon’s corrupt political class to deepen divisions within Lebanese society.

Successive governments in Lebanon, alongside the crumbling political elite, have long exploited these cultural differences to divide Lebanese people, limiting their rich and diverse identity to religious, sectarian, tribal, or even regional affiliations. This strategy serves to sow discord as part of a “divide and conquer” policy.

This tragic reality could not have become possible without the undermining of the state’s authority and its governmental and security institutions by mafia and militia forces that control the Lebanese state, hindering the building of a strong, just state governed by the constitution and laws. Such a state would be capable of confronting aggressions, protecting its territory, supporting its citizens’ resilience, and preserving the historical identity deeply rooted in this land for thousands of years. This systematic erosion of state institutions has led Lebanon into a state of chaos, displacing more than a million Lebanese from their homes. Meanwhile, the government has failed to provide dignified shelter for them and their families.

No Emergency Plan to Protect Lebanon’s Heritage

The haphazard policies governing Lebanon’s social and health sectors cast a shadow over the cultural sector, where no emergency plan is in place to assess risks or set priorities for the protection of heritage, historical, archaeological sites, and museum collections. What is even more concerning is the lack of transparency and accountability in managing these files by government entities, as responsible parties resort to blame-shifting and shirking responsibilities.

Since heritage and antiquities belong to all Lebanese, they have the right to be informed about developments in this sector and to hold officials accountable. Yet, the Directorate General of Antiquities continues to withhold information, ignoring the importance of informing Lebanese citizens of the damage sustained by sites and museums due to bombardment. Despite ongoing attacks for over a year, neither the Ministry of Culture nor the Directorate General of Antiquities has made any effort to assess risks, prioritize actions, or advocate for a cultural emergency plan that encompasses all historical and archaeological sites and museums.

Had such a plan been implemented, some damage might have been mitigated, and current risks reduced by reinforcing the foundations of vulnerable sites, relocating museum and site collections to safer locations, and establishing teams in different areas to protect sites and museums, ready to step in as needed to preserve structures and safeguard artifacts.

Over the past year, Minister of Culture Mohammad Mortada stirred controversy by making various statements and opening multiple fronts, all without prioritizing the protection of heritage and antiquities, even amidst repeated Israeli assaults. His inaction extends beyond neglecting his primary duties; in November, he even removed the “Blue Shield” emblem that protects Baalbek’s site, claiming protest over the Gaza massacre and the failure of international organizations to protect sites there. Yet, only weeks later, he requested UNESCO’s assistance to protect the same site following another Israeli assault on its vicinity on October 6. Minister Mortada’s actions, influenced by his close affiliation with the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, reflect the broader crisis facing Lebanon’s cultural sector, where the ministry serves political interests over the welfare of national culture.

Distortion of Lebanese National Identity

In conclusion, Lebanon’s adversaries are not solely external forces but also internal entities in the form of individuals or groups that erode national identity and undermine the role of the state in favor of sectarian or political dominance. This deliberate distortion of national identity not only threatens Lebanon’s unity but also fractures society, weakening its resilience and making it easier for forces opposed to national sovereignty to expand their influence and control the country’s resources.

In light of these challenges, civil society and local organizations play a crucial role in resisting these attacks on cultural heritage and identity. This civil society includes numerous entities dedicated to heritage protection. Although some workers in this field face pressures that sometimes force them into silence or even exile in search of safety, a few activists persist in their work with determination.

These individuals face daily dangers to document the attacks, record destruction, and preserve what remains of heritage sites and museum collections, with the hope of safeguarding this legacy for future generations.

On the other hand, some organizations exploit crises for their benefit, seeking to monopolize international funding and foreign aid without achieving tangible results. Operating with limited transparency and accountability, these organizations attempt to consolidate their control over the cultural sector for short-term gains, disregarding the genuine need to protect and promote heritage. This behavior not only weakens the sector but also erodes public trust in civil society institutions, which are expected to protect the identity and culture of the people in challenging times.

Thus, it is essential for civil society to overcome internal and external obstacles through unity and a commitment to transparency and accountability, working together to achieve national objectives that go beyond factional interests.

Civil society must take a leading role in advocating for comprehensive national strategies to protect heritage, foster a sense of belonging, enrich the collective memory of the people, and raise awareness of the importance of these landmarks as a shared asset for all Lebanese.

National heritage is the lifeblood of national identity, and its protection is a collective responsibility that requires awareness and solidarity to preserve this rich legacy, which embodies Lebanon’s diversity and long-standing history. With every challenge Lebanon faces, the importance of unity around a shared identity is reinforced, as is the effort to ensure that cultural landmarks remain as witnesses to the people’s history and resilience and as an inspiration for a future built on this rich and diverse identity.