Just a few decades in, the 21st century has witnessed acts of breathtaking cultural destruction across West Asia, from Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Buddhas to ancient sites in Iraq and Syria. Now, Iran, another country rich in historical and archaeological sites, is under attack, with U.S. and Israeli bombs obliterating military targets and infrastructure and killing the country’s leaders, along with nea...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a critical tension between modern warfare and the protection of cultural heritage, framing the damage in Iran as both a collateral consequence of military strikes and a potential harbinger of eroding norms. The article credibly documents specific instances of damage, leverages expert testimony to underscore the risks of looting and academic isolation, and contextualizes the conflict within international legal frameworks like the Hague Convention...