Lauren Frayer

Lebanon's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites are marked with this blue and white symbol that signifies UN protection. It's even painted on the roof of the ticket office so that it's visible by warplanes. I visited three of the six UNESCO heritage sites.

Lebanon's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites are marked with this blue and white symbol that signifies UN protection. It's even painted on the roof of the ticket office so that it's visible by warplanes. I visited three of the six UNESCO heritage sites.

Lebanon's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites are marked with this blue and white symbol that signifies UN protection. It's even painted on the roof of the ticket office so that it's visible by warplanes. I visited three of the six UNESCO heritage sites.

The monuments themselves are still standing, but for example, an Israeli airstrike left a crater in the tourist parking lot right next to some Greco-Roman temples in Baalbek. Archaeologists have yet to x-ray the columns for hairline fractures from the force of explosions all around them. There's also damage to historic stone houses, ancient markets.

The monuments themselves are still standing, but for example, an Israeli airstrike left a crater in the tourist parking lot right next to some Greco-Roman temples in Baalbek. Archaeologists have yet to x-ray the columns for hairline fractures from the force of explosions all around them. There's also damage to historic stone houses, ancient markets.

The monuments themselves are still standing, but for example, an Israeli airstrike left a crater in the tourist parking lot right next to some Greco-Roman temples in Baalbek. Archaeologists have yet to x-ray the columns for hairline fractures from the force of explosions all around them. There's also damage to historic stone houses, ancient markets.

Joanne Farshuk-Bajali is a specialist in heritage architecture who's been going around to properties on Lebanon's National Register of Historic Places to literally see if they're still there.

Joanne Farshuk-Bajali is a specialist in heritage architecture who's been going around to properties on Lebanon's National Register of Historic Places to literally see if they're still there.

Joanne Farshuk-Bajali is a specialist in heritage architecture who's been going around to properties on Lebanon's National Register of Historic Places to literally see if they're still there.

You know, she sees this damage as an Israeli attempt to erase Lebanon's claim to its history and its own land. Israel, of course, denies that. Just like in Gaza, it says its intention has not been to lay waste to residential areas, only that it's responding to militant attacks that come from these same areas.

You know, she sees this damage as an Israeli attempt to erase Lebanon's claim to its history and its own land. Israel, of course, denies that. Just like in Gaza, it says its intention has not been to lay waste to residential areas, only that it's responding to militant attacks that come from these same areas.

You know, she sees this damage as an Israeli attempt to erase Lebanon's claim to its history and its own land. Israel, of course, denies that. Just like in Gaza, it says its intention has not been to lay waste to residential areas, only that it's responding to militant attacks that come from these same areas.

I mean, the World Bank estimates that in Lebanon, the cost of damage and economic losses from the war to be about $8.5 billion. So rebuilding will be a huge years-long project. This is a country that the economy has already been in shambles before this war. And that rebuilding can't begin in a lot of these areas until Israeli troops withdraw. And that hasn't finished yet.

I mean, the World Bank estimates that in Lebanon, the cost of damage and economic losses from the war to be about $8.5 billion. So rebuilding will be a huge years-long project. This is a country that the economy has already been in shambles before this war. And that rebuilding can't begin in a lot of these areas until Israeli troops withdraw. And that hasn't finished yet.

I mean, the World Bank estimates that in Lebanon, the cost of damage and economic losses from the war to be about $8.5 billion. So rebuilding will be a huge years-long project. This is a country that the economy has already been in shambles before this war. And that rebuilding can't begin in a lot of these areas until Israeli troops withdraw. And that hasn't finished yet.

There are areas still where civilians cannot get home in Lebanon and where they can't reach antiquities either. Right.

There are areas still where civilians cannot get home in Lebanon and where they can't reach antiquities either. Right.

There are areas still where civilians cannot get home in Lebanon and where they can't reach antiquities either. Right.

Thanks, Asma. Happy holidays.

Thanks, Asma. Happy holidays.