'Years to build, a moment to destroy': US and Israeli air campaign devastates some of Iran's most cherished monuments
In March 2026, Israeli airstrikes targeting a governor’s office in Isfahan caused collateral damage to several UNESCO‑listed heritage sites across Iran. The blasts shattered glass, cracked walls and displaced debris in historic complexes such as Naqsh‑e Jahan Square, Chehel Sotoun Palace, Golestan Palace, as well as the Trans‑Iranian Railway and an 1,800‑year‑old fortress. UNESCO has not been consulted during the conflict and has relied on satellite imagery to verify damage at seven Iranian sites.
- ▪Airstrikes on March 7 and 9 produced shock waves that damaged eleven historic buildings, including UNESCO World Heritage sites in Isfahan and Tehran.
- ▪Damage was observed at Naqsh‑e Jahan Square, Chehel Sotoun Palace, Golestan Palace, the Jameh Mosque, the Trans‑Iranian Railway and an ancient fortress near prehistoric caves.
- ▪UNESCO reported that it was not consulted before or during the attacks and has only used satellite imagery to assess the impact.
- ▪Experts noted that the shock waves travel nearly twenty times faster than sound and can affect structures up to a kilometre from the detonation point.
- ▪The conflict marks the first recorded instance of UNESCO‑listed cultural heritage sites being damaged by US‑or allied air campaigns in the region.
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Debris covers the floor around the Takht-e Marmar (Marble Throne) inside the Hall of Mirrors (Talar-e Ayne) at Golestan Palace, a Unesco World Heritage site, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on March 21, 2026. — Reuters 'Years to build, a moment to destroy': US-Israeli air campaign devastates some of Iran's most cherished monuments Ranging from shattered glass and broken tile to cracked walls and shaken foundations, the damage is mostly inflicted by bomb shock waves radiating out nearly 20 times faster than the speed of sound. Reuters Published June 30, 2026 Listen to article 1x 1.2x 1.5x A first set of blast waves set ancient domes and minarets trembling around the most famous square in the ancient city of Isfahan.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Dawn.
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