UN urges protection of cultural sites after Israeli strikes in Lebanon's Baalbek

​​​​​​​By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN urged the protection of cultural heritage sites on Wednesday after reported Israeli airstrikes on Baalbek in eastern Lebanon.

"Clearly, we do not want to see any harm, tend to people and also to the cultural heritage," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference.

"I think one of the things we've seen in conflicts in recent years is the destruction of cultural heritage that can never be replaced," he added.

His remarks came in response to a question on the situation in Lebanon after a new wave of Israeli airstrikes near Baalbek, which reportedly killed 30 people.

An important urban center in the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek is famed for its towering Roman ruins. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to more than 100,000 residents.

Previous Israeli airstrikes in Douris have destroyed ancient sites.

Israel last month launched a massive air campaign in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation in a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

More than 2,700 people have been killed and nearly 12,500 injured in Israeli attacks since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel expanded the conflict by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.