Cultural Heritage Protection

ICOMOS Statement on the Protection of Cultural Heritage Amid Escalating Conflict March 26, 2026 ICOMOS Lebanon Source Armed Conflict, Cultural Heritage Protection, ICOMOS Statement ICOMOS Lebanon aligns with the position of ICOMOS International and reiterates its deep concern regarding the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East and its devastating human consequences, including the loss of life, increasing casualties, and the displacement of populations, with serious implications for cultural continuity. ICOMOS strongly condemns any destruction – whether intentional or incidental-of cultural and natural heritage, and recalls that cultural heritage must never be considered a target. Serious concern is raised over confirmed and reported damage to cultural heritage across the region, including impacts on several World Heritage properties. These include damage to sites such as the archaeological site of Tyre. Such incidents highlight the risk of irreversible loss. Cultural heritage constitutes an essential component of social structures, sustaining identity, continuity, and cohesion, particularly in times of crisis and displacement. ICOMOS recalls the obligations set out under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols. It further notes that serious violations, including the destruction of cultural property, may entail individual criminal responsibility under international humanitarian law, including under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ICOMOS calls on all parties to fully respect their obligations under international law and to ensure the protection of cultural heritage and the communities who sustain it.