BEIRUT: Culture Minister Raymond Areiji Thursday dismissed fears that Jbeil’s historic harbor is "ancient" and threatened with collapse due to a powerful winter storm sweeping through Lebanon.

“The archaeological site in Jbeil is the ancient city, where there is no damage and it is fine," Areiji told the Voice of Lebanon radio station.

“Jbeil’s harbor is not ancient in the sense that it’s Phoenician or Roman,” he said, “and the small concrete citadel at the port’s entrance is also not ancient.”