Israeli airstrike destroys century-old heritage house in Lebanon

Israeli army on Wednesday destroyed a more-than-century-old heritage house in southern Lebanon amid Tel Aviv’s continued breaches of the ongoing ceasefire, Lebanon’s state news agency reported.

The house was located in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and was owned by the Dandash family, the National News Agency (NNA) said.

The house had previously sustained partial damage from an Israeli strike before being restored and renovated due to its heritage character and the historical value it represented in the town, the outlet added.

This is not the first heritage building targeted by Israel, as Lebanon has witnessed significant destruction of its cultural and historical buildings due to Israeli attacks, especially in recent years since 2024.

Among the most prominent affected landmarks are areas surrounding the ancient Baalbek Citadel (a UNESCO World Heritage site), including Ottoman-era and historic buildings such as the Al-Manshiyah building, damage to the historic Palmyra Hotel, and the ancient Dome of Douris.

The heritage castle of Doueibeh in southern Lebanon was also destroyed, and sites near archaeological landmarks in the city of Tyre were struck by air raids that threatened Roman ruins.

US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on April 17, before saying on Thursday it would be extended by three weeks following a second round of talks between the two sides in Washington.

According to official Lebanese figures, the Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed at least 2,576 people, wounded 7,962 others, and displaced more than 1.6 million people.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel