Strikes attributed to U.S. and Israeli forces have damaged at least four cultural and historical sites in Iran, including palaces and an ancient mosque, according to UNESCO verification. The damage has prompted Iran and Lebanon to request additional sites be added to the UN cultural agency's enhanced protection list.

UNESCO confirmed damage to the Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran, the 17th century Chehel Sotoun palace in Isfahan, and the Masjed-e Jāme mosque, considered Iran's oldest Friday mosque. Buildings near the Khorramabad Valley, which contains prehistoric caves with evidence of human occupation dating to 63,000 B.C., also sustained damage. At Golestan Palace, video showed shattered glass from mirrored ceilings covering floors, with broken archways and damaged molding visible throughout the structure.

The affected sites are among nearly 30 Iranian locations on UNESCO's World Heritage list, which designates sites of outstanding value to humanity. UNESCO said it had provided all parties with geographical coordinates of heritage sites beforehand to help avoid damage. The agency noted that cultural site damage has extended beyond Iran to locations including Israel's White City and Tyre in Lebanon.

Neither the Pentagon nor Israeli Defense Forces provided substantive comment on the damage claims, with the IDF stating it was "unfamiliar" with reports of damage to UNESCO sites. The strikes occurred amid broader regional conflict that has reportedly killed more than 1,000 people according to human rights advocates.

Cultural heritage experts expressed concern about the broader implications of such damage during conflicts. The U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield noted that protection of cultural sites is embedded in international humanitarian law alongside protections for civilian populations and infrastructure. The Trump administration announced in July 2024 that it would withdraw from UNESCO in December, citing concerns about anti-Israel bias within the organization.