03
Cultural & UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11 documented incidents
- Mar 2–5 Golestan Palace (UNESCO), Tehran: IHL-Protected Airstrikes on the nearby Pasteur district and Arag Square caused debris and shockwave damage to the 19th-century Qajar-era palace facade and mirrored ceilings. UNESCO confirmed the damage and issued a formal statement that attacking UNESCO-listed property violates international law. [PBS / AP]
- Mar 5 Azadi Stadium, Tehran: IHL-Protected Iran's largest sports complex was bombed during intensified strikes on the sixth day of the war. [Al Jazeera, Mar 5]
- Mar 10 Chehel Sotoun Palace (UNESCO), Isfahan: IHL-Protected Structural cracks and debris damage reported following extensive strike waves. UNESCO verified the damage. [PBS / AP]
- Mar 10 Naqsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO) — Ali Qapu Palace, Isfahan: IHL-Protected Historic doors and windows shattered by shockwaves from strikes in the area. [Wikipedia]
- Mar 10 Naqsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO) — Jame Abbasi Mosque, Isfahan: IHL-Protected Damage to the iconic turquoise tilework and calligraphic inscriptions. [Wikipedia]
- Mar 10 Masjed-e Jame (UNESCO), Isfahan: IHL-Protected Iran's oldest Friday mosque — dating back over 1,400 years — sustained damage to its ancient brickwork and arches. UNESCO confirmed this site was damaged. [PBS / AP]
- Mar 10 Falak-ol-Aflak Castle, Khorramabad: IHL-Protected The 3rd-century Sassanid fortress was damaged during strikes on nearby IRGC aerospace facilities. [PBS / AP]
- Mar 12 Safavid-era Dawlatkhaneh Complex, Isfahan: IHL-Protected The Rashk-e Jenan (Rashk Palace) was reported destroyed by direct strikes. Other damaged structures include the Rakib Khaneh Mansion, the 15th-century Timurid Hall, and the Ashraf Hall. [Wikipedia]
- Mar 13 Safavid-era buildings, Isfahan: IHL-Protected Damage reported to the Rakeb-Khaneh pavilion, Ashraf Hall, and 15th-century Teymouri Hall. [Wikipedia]
- Mar 25 Home of filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, Tehran: IHL-Protected The home of the internationally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker was reportedly damaged. [Wikipedia]
- Apr 7 Rafi-Nia Synagogue, Tehran: IHL-Protected 'Completely destroyed' when an adjacent residential building near Palestine Square was struck. Footage showed civil defense workers amid rubble with Hebrew-language books and Torah scrolls scattered on the ground. The synagogue — one of approximately 100 in Iran and 30 in Tehran — was destroyed on the sixth day of Passover. The Jewish community's representative in parliament said Israel 'showed no mercy' during the Jewish holidays. The IDF admitted 'collateral damage' from a strike targeting 'a senior Iranian commander.' [Al Jazeera, Apr 7]
Summary:UNESCO provided the coordinates of all protected heritage sites to both parties in advance and issued a formal warning that damaging these properties violates international law. Iran's Minister of Culture confirmed at least 56 heritage sites damaged — described as 'a deliberate and conscious attack on Iranian identity' — along with 55 libraries destroyed. On April 7, the Rafi-Nia Synagogue in Tehran was completely destroyed during Passover. [UNESCO; PBS/AP; Al Jazeera, Apr 7]