THE IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICTS ON CULTURAL HERITAGE: A STUDY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Cultural heritage, encompassing historical monuments, architectural landmarks, and artistic treasures, serves as a vital link between past, present, and future generations. It is the repository of a society's identity, traditions, and shared memory. As such, its preservation is not only an act of safeguarding history but also one of ensuring the continuity of cultural identities. However, armed conflicts have repeatedly proven to be one of the most destructive forces in history, leading to the deliberate or collateral damage of these invaluable symbols of cultural legacy.