Lebanon has raised alarm after alleging that Israeli aircraft have sprayed concentrated herbicide over villages in the southern part of the country, a move that Lebanese authorities label as a severe breach of environmental and health standards. The chemical in question, glyphosate, has been detected in concentrations significantly exceeding acceptable levels, prompting fears about its impact on food security and the local environment.
High Concentrations of Herbicide Detected
The Lebanese ministries of agriculture and environment reported that laboratory analyses confirmed the presence of glyphosate, with some samples showing concentrations “between 20 and 30 times” the levels deemed safe. This revelation has led to widespread condemnation, including from President Joseph Aoun, who described the action as an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty and a crime against the environment and public health.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have refrained from commenting on the allegations. The motives behind the alleged spraying remain uncertain, raising questions about its potential implications for regional stability and agricultural viability.
Impact on Local Communities and Agriculture
Residents from several border villages have reported witnessing aircraft spraying the herbicide, an act that occurs more than a year after a ceasefire concluded hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The United Nations peacekeeping forces stationed in Lebanon were alerted by Israeli authorities about planned spraying operations, which forced them to alter their activities in the area. This incident is not isolated; there have been previous reports of Israeli forces deploying unidentified chemical agents over Lebanese territory.
Ramzi Kaiss, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, highlighted the challenges facing displaced individuals in returning to their homes, particularly in regions that rely heavily on agriculture. “These areas are heavily dependent on agriculture—olive groves, tobacco, and other crops—and this incident complicates people’s ability to return to their homes, maintain their livelihoods, and rebuild after extensive destruction,” Kaiss stated.
Broader Environmental Concerns and Economic Impact
Experts warn that such actions could have dire consequences for Lebanon’s agricultural sector, which has already suffered extensive damage from the ongoing conflict. A report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that the 2024 conflict inflicted losses exceeding $700 million (£515 million; €600 million) on Lebanon’s agriculture, particularly affecting the southern regions and the Bekaa Valley.
Environmental organisations, including Green Southerners, have voiced concerns about the long-term effects of glyphosate on soil fertility and agricultural productivity. They warned that such actions pose a threat to ecosystems already compromised by previous military operations, jeopardising biodiversity, food security, and local livelihoods.
Divergent Views on Glyphosate Risk
The debate surrounding glyphosate’s safety is contentious. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer categorises glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” linking it to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, contrasting positions from regulatory bodies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Food Safety Authority, suggest that it is unlikely to present a carcinogenic risk to humans.
In response to these developments, the Lebanese foreign ministry has announced intentions to file a formal complaint against Israel with the UN Security Council, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Why it Matters
The allegations of herbicide spraying not only raise immediate health and environmental concerns but also reflect the ongoing tensions between Lebanon and Israel. As communities struggle to recover from conflict, incidents like this threaten the fragile peace and complicate efforts to rebuild livelihoods in a region already reeling from extensive agricultural losses. The implications of such actions extend beyond local ecosystems, potentially destabilising food security and economic resilience in Lebanon, a country still grappling with the ramifications of recent hostilities.