Baghdad: UNESCO has inscribed the Normandy landing beaches on its World Heritage List, recognizing them as an “exceptional cultural landscape” shaped by the significant events of 1944 and their enduring memory. These historic sites were pivotal during World War II, witnessing the arrival of 156,115 Allied troops by sea and air during the landings on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juneau, and Sword beaches.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, during its meeting in Busan, South Korea, UNESCO also inscribed the Boma-Padingelu Plains in South Sudan on both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. This marks the first time a South Sudanese site has been included on a UNESCO list, highlighting the ongoing threats of war and climate change that endanger the site.

On Saturday, the village of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia, known for its picturesque white and blue architecture and its location overlooking the Gulf of Carthage, was also added to the list. This site joins other new inscriptions such as Mount Olympus in Greece, the Royal Castles of Languedoc in France, six ancient cities in the Comoros Islands, and a historic monastery in southern Thailand, further expanding the list of protected cultural and natural landmarks.