STORY: Israel continues raids on Beirut's suburbs, Lebanon appeals for protection of cultural heritage
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 7, 2024 
DATELINE: Nov. 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:04:37
LOCATION: Beirut 
CATEGORY: MILITARY 

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Beirut Rafiq Hariri international airport
2. various of destruction in the southern suburbs of Beirut adjacent to Beirut airport 
3. various of rubbles of building hit by Israeli strike on Baalbek 
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ALI EL SOLH, Baalbek citizen
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ZAHER HAJJ MOUSSA, Baalbek citizen
6. various of rubbles of building hit by Israeli strike on Baalbek  

STORYLINE:

Israeli warplanes renewed at dawn on Thursday their raids on Beirut's southern suburbs, including Ouzai, a densely populated area near the Beirut airport, local TV channel al-Jadeed reported.

According to al-Jadeed, the strikes damaged the area surrounding Runway 17 and some departments outside the airport's main entrance, while the main hall was not affected.

On Thursday morning, Lebanese Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamieh confirmed on social media platform X that the airport was functioning normally.

Meanwhile, the official National News Agency reported three raids in the Ouzai area, along with heavy airstrikes targeting the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV building in Haret Hreik municipality, as well as Haret Baajour and Tahwitat al-Ghadir regions.

The raids followed evacuation warnings from the Israeli army, urging residents in areas including Ouzai, Haret Hreik, Hadath, and Tahwitat al-Ghadir in Beirut's southern suburbs to leave.

Local media reported that the raids involved heavy missiles, with explosions echoing across Beirut and Mount Lebanon regions. Three missiles reportedly fell near Runway 17 at Rafic Hariri Airport, and a gas station in Tahwitat al-Ghadir was bombed, sparking a massive fire.

Also on Thursday, the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck Beirut in a night attack that targeted Hezbollah's command centers and other infrastructure.

On the same day, Lebanese parliament members sent a letter to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, urging the protection of Lebanon's cultural and historical heritage from Israeli attacks.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces targeted residential neighborhoods in Baalbek and the historic "Al-Manshiya" building, which was completely destroyed, according to Baalbek Mayor Mustafa al-Shal.

To avoid the negative impact of Israeli strikes on Lebanon's cultural and historical heritage, a UNESCO official told Xinhua that the agency had contacted all state parties concerned, reminding them of their commitments to treaties pledging not to harm cultural heritage amid armed conflict, namely the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The official also noted that an extraordinary session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict will be organized on Nov. 18, with the aim of enhancing protection and international assistance for Lebanese cultural properties.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ALI EL SOLH, Baalbek citizen
"This area is a touristic site. There is nothing in it to be targeted. The tourists come here to take photos. We use this space also for the festivals and concerts. Why was this site targeted, I do not know? This is an aggression against the tourism sector, against the civilians, against everything. These Zionists are launching an aggression against Baalbek, the city of sun, the city of honor and resistance. This is Baalbek."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ZAHER HAJJ MOUSSA, Baalbek citizen
"This is a historical house, a kind of museum for Baalbek that was hit by the Israelis. They are targeting the wrong sites. You have there the church, the house of god that was hit also. Here is also the Baalbek temple which was nearly hit, they are crossing the red lines. This is too much, those are sites that do not contain any military assets. You hit the touristic sites, you hit the Baalbek temple, you hit the museum and the parking lot, you are hitting sites that are not suitable for you. This is a heritage house and museum linked to the Baalbek temple, this house was targeted and the Baalbek temple as well, the church also, why? May god have mercy on the martyrs and heal the wounded."

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been conducting an intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.

The ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting retaliatory fire and airstrikes by Israel in southeastern Lebanon.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon has exceeded 3,000, with injuries surpassing 13,600.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)