In a Spanish TV intervention, Dr. Patricia Antaki, Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museology at the University of Balamand, discussed the urgent threats facing Lebanon's cultural heritage, particularly in light of recent conflicts and the destruction in the region. The conversation focused on “Lebanese Heritage: UNESCO Reinforces the Protection of 34 Cultural Sites” (El patrimoni del Líban, en risc: la Unesco reforça la protecció de 34 béns culturals). Dr. Antaki emphasized the critical importance of protecting historical sites such as Baalbek and Tyre, which had suffered significant damage due to ongoing unrest.

Dr. Antaki highlighted that UNESCO had taken important steps to strengthen the protection of 34 cultural sites in Lebanon, officially recognizing them as part of the world’s heritage. She emphasized that these actions were intended to ensure the preservation of these sites for future generations. Additionally, Dr. Antaki explained that international conventions and laws now categorized attacks on such heritage sites as war crimes, stressing that the deliberate destruction of cultural landmarks was not only an assault on history but on humanity itself.

Through this initiative, UNESCO aimed to prevent further damage and safeguard Lebanon’s rich cultural legacy, which includes ancient Roman ruins and historic cities. Dr. Antaki called for increased international support and greater cooperation between Lebanon’s authorities, cultural institutions, and the global community to protect these irreplaceable monuments. ​