Lebanon has accused Israeli aircraft of spraying an agricultural herbicide over southern villages at concentrations authorities described as dangerously high, raising concerns for food and environmental security. The agriculture and environment ministries confirmed through laboratory tests that the substance was glyphosate, a chemical used to destroy vegetation, with concentrations in some samples 'between 20 and 30 times the levels usually accepted.' President Joseph Aoun condemned the spraying of what he described as 'toxic substances', calling it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and an environmental and health crime. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC they had no comment on the matter. The purpose behind the release of herbicide on the villages remains unclear. Residents in several border villages reported the spraying, which comes more than a year after a ceasefire ended a war between Israel and the Lebanese Shia Islamist group Hezbollah. Earlier in the week, United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon stated that they had been notified by Israel of planned spraying near the border and were advised to take shelter, forcing them to cancel some of their planned operations. They emphasized that this is not the first time Israeli forces had dropped unknown chemical substances over Lebanese territory. Following extensive hostilities, many locals are still displaced; the ongoing conflict complicates returning home and rebuilding efforts, as emphasized by Ramzi Kaiss of Human Rights Watch in Lebanon. Furthermore, experts predict economic ramifications for Lebanon's heavily agriculture-dependent regions. Environmental organizations, such as Green Southerners, also raised alarms about the potential risks posed to biodiversity and food security. The World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research agency has classified glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans,' suggesting a link to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, though other agencies argue otherwise. The Lebanese foreign ministry announced intentions to submit a formal complaint against Israel to the UN Security Council.
Lebanon Accuses Israel of Contaminating Southern Villages with Herbicide
Lebanon Accuses Israel of Contaminating Southern Villages with Herbicide
Lebanese officials claim that Israeli aircraft sprayed glyphosate, a potent herbicide, over border villages, raising serious concerns over public health and agricultural security.
Lebanon has officially accused Israel of aerial spraying concentrated glyphosate herbicide over several southern villages, posing risks to food safety and the environment. Authorities have condemned this action as a violation of sovereignty and a public health hazard, while impact assessments indicate potential long-term damage to local agriculture. The Israeli military has not commented on the allegations, and Lebanon intends to file a complaint with the UN Security Council. The incident follows a ceasefire in the region amid heightened tensions with Hezbollah.
