Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon hit by Israeli bombardment in recent months, has been added to the Unesco list of world heritage sites in danger.

“The site has been directly hit and has sustained damage. Furthermore, its state of conservation is a cause for growing concern, particularly given the possibility of further impacts,” the organisation said.

“Optimal conditions are no longer in place to ensure the conservation and protection of the property’s outstanding universal value,” the UN body says, adding that it was the Lebanese government that requested its inclusion on the list.

Tyre, 83 kilometres south of Beirut but barely 20 kilometres from the Israeli border, was placed on the Unesco heritage list in 1984 and contains mainly Roman-era archaeological remains.

The coastal city has been caught up in recent months in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and most of its inhabitants have fled after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders covering districts, including some archaeological areas.