The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has temporarily granted the status of specially protected 34 cultural sites in Lebanon in the context of ongoing hostilities in the south of the country. The decision was made following a meeting of the special committee for the protection of cultural heritage in conflict zones.

"Following the results of the session, 34 Lebanese cultural sites were provisionally included in the International List of Cultural Values under Enhanced Protection, including World Heritage sites in Baalbek and Tyre, near which recent strikes were recorded," the statement says.

The session was held at the request of the Lebanese authorities. Now these sites, including a number of temples, museums and archaeological sites, will enjoy maximum immunity from attacks. "Failure to comply with these provisions will be considered a serious violation of the 1954 Hague Convention and will open up the possibility of prosecution," the statement emphasizes.

The organization plans to provide technical and financial assistance for legal protection and threat prevention. It is clarified that UNESCO experts have already offered assistance in the inventory and relocation of museum collections and valuable works to parts of Lebanon not affected by the conflict. The state of objects is also monitored using satellites, reports tass.ru.