UNESCO adds six sites in Middle East to endangered heritage list

At its session in Busan, South Korea, the UNESCO Committee simultaneously inscribed six cultural sites on both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, Report informs, citing Al Jazeera.

According to the outlet, the decision was made under an emergency procedure due to the risk of destruction of monuments located in conflict zones.

The list includes the Sebastia archaeological complex near Nablus in the West Bank, which contains monuments dating from the Iron Age to the Islamic period. The Palestinian side is seeking to protect the site amid Israeli plans to seize adjacent land for a national park.

Also added were five castles in southern Lebanon's Mount Amel area, including the medieval Beaufort Castle. In late May, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that this site is under the control of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).