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Lebanese authorities detect dangerous herbicide levels
Lebanon has accused Israeli aircraft of dispersing glyphosate, a potent agricultural herbicide, over southern border villages at concentrations deemed hazardous by government officials. Laboratory tests confirmed the chemical's presence at levels 20 to 30 times above accepted safety thresholds, raising alarms over food security and environmental damage.
Government condemns act as sovereignty violation
President Joseph Aoun denounced the spraying as a "toxic" assault on Lebanese territory, framing it as both an environmental and public health crime. The agriculture and environment ministries jointly released findings after analyzing samples collected from affected areas.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declined to comment when approached by the BBC.
UN peacekeepers alerted prior to spraying
United Nations forces in Lebanon revealed they had received advance notice from Israel about planned aerial spraying near the border earlier in the week. The warning prompted the cancellation of scheduled operations and forced personnel to seek shelter. This marks the latest in a series of incidents where Israeli aircraft have released unidentified chemicals over Lebanese soil, according to UN statements.
Residents and experts warn of long-term consequences
Villagers along the border reported witnessing the herbicide dispersal, which follows a fragile ceasefire that ended hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in 2024. Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanon-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, highlighted the compounded challenges for displaced communities.
"These regions rely heavily on farming-olive groves, tobacco, and other crops. The herbicide spraying further undermines efforts to return home, sustain livelihoods, and recover from widespread destruction,"
Ramzi Kaiss, Human Rights Watch
Environmental organizations, including Green Southerners, warned of cascading ecological harm. In a statement posted on Instagram, the group emphasized risks to insect populations and natural pollinators, which could destabilize biodiversity, food security, and local economies.
Economic and health debates surround glyphosate
The 2024 conflict inflicted over $700 million in agricultural losses across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization report published in April 2025. The latest incident threatens to deepen the sector's struggles.
Glyphosate's safety remains contentious. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as "probably carcinogenic," citing potential links to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, regulatory bodies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Food Safety Authority have concluded it poses no significant cancer risk to humans.
Lebanon plans UN Security Council complaint
The foreign ministry announced its intention to file a formal protest against Israel with the UN Security Council. The motive behind the herbicide release remains unclear, with no official explanation provided by Israeli authorities.
