Damage to historical sites in Iran raises alarm about war’s impact

Damage caused by US and Israeli strikes is seen on the facade of the Qajar-era Golestan Palace (ISNA via AP)

US and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least four cultural and historical sites, including palaces and an ancient mosque, raising alarms about the impact of the widening war on protected landmarks that are important to Iranian identity and world history.

The speed and extent of the damage have so concerned Iran and Lebanon that they sent a request to the United Nations’ cultural agency, Unesco, this week to add more sites to its enhanced protection list.