Israeli bombardment has damaged a World Heritage site in Lebanon’s southern city of Tyre, a culture ministry official tells AFP, as correspondents there saw debris and damage.

One of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean coast, Tyre lies around 20 kilometres from the Israeli border, and its Unesco World Heritage listed ruins are located in two main areas of the city.

AFP correspondents today saw dust and debris close to ancient columns after the previous day’s bombardment, as well as twisted metal and broken tree branches near several stone artefacts. Concrete and metal debris also appeared to have been strewn onto a stone stairway.

Ali Badawi, regional director of archaeological sites for south Lebanon in the culture ministry, said Sunday’s bombardment had had “the worst impact” on Tyre’s ancient areas since the war began.

“The amount of debris and damage at the site is high,” he said, noting both the direct impact, with the site’s administrative office struck, and the indirect impact of debris strewn from nearby bombardment.