'Years to build, a moment to destroy': US-Israeli air campaign devastates some of Iran's most cherished monuments
In March 2026 Israeli airstrikes, part of a US‑Israeli campaign against Iran, damaged several UNESCO‑listed monuments in Isfahan and Tehran. Reuters journalists documented damage at eleven historic sites, including Naqsh‑e Jahan square, Chehel Sotoun Palace, Golestan Palace, the Trans‑Iranian Railway and an 1,800‑year‑old fortress. UNESCO has not been consulted during the attacks and is relying on satellite imagery to assess the impact, urging all parties to respect international law protecting cultural heritage.
- ▪The bomb shock waves, traveling nearly twenty times faster than sound, shattered glass, cracked walls and displaced debris up to a kilometre from the detonation sites.
- ▪Damage was observed at eleven historic buildings, with UNESCO confirming harm to seven sites, two of which are on its World Heritage list.
- ▪Israeli forces said the intended target was the Isfahan governor’s office, but nearby UNESCO‑listed Chehel Sotoun Palace and other heritage sites were also struck.
- ▪UNESCO has not sent inspection teams to the affected locations and has only been able to use satellite imagery, while calling on all conflict parties to uphold cultural property protections.
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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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