The Lebanese Ministry of Culture has finalized the installation of Blue Shield emblems at 34 of the nation's most critical archaeological sites. These international markings are designed to identify protected cultural property clearly, ensuring they are recognized and spared by all parties under the 1954 Hague Convention. The initiative covers major landmarks, including the world-famous Roman temples of Baalbek and the Umayyad ruins of Anjar.
Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé noted that the Blue Shield serves as both a visual deterrent and a legal marker of the site's immunity. The project was prioritized for the Bekaa Valley's megalithic structures, such as the Temple of Jupiter, where preservationists fear that indirect blast pressure from nearby conflict could destabilize the iconic columns.