In recent days, Israeli airstrikes have damaged several historically significant cultural buildings in the Iranian city of Isfahan, which was reported by the New York Times, among others. The damaged buildings include the palaces of Ali Qapu and Chehel Sotun, both of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. None of the buildings are said to have been hit directly, although explosions caused damage to valuable windows and mosaics, among other things.
According to Isfahan Governor Mehdi Jamalinejad, the attacks were carried out even though the buildings were marked as worthy of protection under the Hague Convention.
– Isfahan is not an ordinary city, it is an open-air museum, says Jamalinejad in a speech posted on social media.
Since always reported severe damage to Golestan Palace in Tehran, whose oldest parts date back to the 15th century. Among other things, glass was broken in the castle’s famous Hall of Mirrors. UNESCO spokeswoman Monia Adjiwanou says the UN agency found damage to several key World Heritage sites – including Golestan Palace and the Masjed-e Jame Mosque.
Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, expressed concern to the Reuters news agency about the future of important cultural buildings in several countries in the region.
– UNESCO is deeply concerned about the damage the fighting is already causing to many world heritage sites, Lazare Eloundou Assomo tells Reuters.
