Lebanon's culture minister said Sunday that military operations in the country's south caused extensive damage to archaeological sites, historic buildings and religious landmarks.

Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said the destruction stretched across numerous locations in southern Lebanon following nearly four months of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. 

Some areas remain inaccessible because Israeli troops are still deployed there, preventing experts from completing a full damage assessment. 

Among the sites affected was the ancient port city of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where part of a decorative crown atop a historic column was destroyed. Salame also said the Mamluk-era marketplace in Nabatieh, centuries-old villages near the Israeli border, religious pilgrimage sites and medieval fortresses suffered varying levels of damage during the conflict.