Lebanon has accused Israeli aircraft of spraying an agricultural herbicide over southern villages at dangerously high concentrations, raising concerns for food and environmental security. The agriculture and environment ministries confirmed through laboratory testing 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 termed 'toxic substances', calling it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and an environmental and health crime. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC they had no comment on the matter.
The purpose behind the herbicide release is still unclear, but residents in several border villages reported the spraying. This incident follows more than a year after a ceasefire ended a conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shia Islamist group Hezbollah.
Earlier in the week, United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon stated that they had been alerted by Israel about planned spraying near the border and advised to take shelter, forcing them to cancel some operations. Reports indicate that this is not the first time Israeli forces have dropped unknown chemicals from aircraft into Lebanese territory.
There are still many displaced due to the 2023-24 conflict, complicating their return to heavily agriculture-dependent communities. Ramzi Kaiss, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Lebanon, expressed that such incidents hinder the recovery of local livelihoods and pose significant challenges to rebuilding efforts.
Experts warn that instances like this not only harm local ecosystems but also threaten the agricultural economy of Lebanon, which recently suffered devastating losses due to earlier conflicts. Environmental groups, like Green Southerners, have highlighted risks to biodiversity and food security.
While some health agencies classify glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans', there’s no universal consensus on its safety. Lebanon’s foreign ministry has stated its intention to formally complain to the UN Security Council regarding this alleged violation.
President Joseph Aoun condemned the spraying of what he termed 'toxic substances', calling it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and an environmental and health crime. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC they had no comment on the matter.
The purpose behind the herbicide release is still unclear, but residents in several border villages reported the spraying. This incident follows more than a year after a ceasefire ended a conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shia Islamist group Hezbollah.
Earlier in the week, United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon stated that they had been alerted by Israel about planned spraying near the border and advised to take shelter, forcing them to cancel some operations. Reports indicate that this is not the first time Israeli forces have dropped unknown chemicals from aircraft into Lebanese territory.
There are still many displaced due to the 2023-24 conflict, complicating their return to heavily agriculture-dependent communities. Ramzi Kaiss, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Lebanon, expressed that such incidents hinder the recovery of local livelihoods and pose significant challenges to rebuilding efforts.
Experts warn that instances like this not only harm local ecosystems but also threaten the agricultural economy of Lebanon, which recently suffered devastating losses due to earlier conflicts. Environmental groups, like Green Southerners, have highlighted risks to biodiversity and food security.
While some health agencies classify glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans', there’s no universal consensus on its safety. Lebanon’s foreign ministry has stated its intention to formally complain to the UN Security Council regarding this alleged violation.
