Beirut readies for legal action after Israel showers Lebanese farmland with toxic chemicals

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned Israel for spraying toxic substances over farmland and orchards in southern Lebanon, ordering the preparation of a documented case file to pursue legal and diplomatic action against Israel.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Aoun denounced Israeli aircraft for dispersing "toxic pesticides" over agricultural land in several southern border villages, calling the act a grave violation of Lebanese sovereignty and an environmental and health crime against civilians.

He instructed the foreign ministry to prepare a fully documented file, in coordination with the ministries of agriculture, environment and public health, ahead of taking all necessary legal and diplomatic steps, including filing complaints with relevant international bodies.

"This hostile act constitutes a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty, an environmental and health crime against Lebanese citizens and their land, and a continuation of Israel’s repeated attacks on Lebanon and its people," Aoun said.

He added that targeting farmland and livelihoods posed serious risks to public health and the environment, and required the international community and UN agencies to shoulder their responsibilities to halt such actions.

The New Arab has learned that laboratory results from samples collected in affected southern areas were expected later on Wednesday.

The samples were taken by Lebanon's agriculture ministry in coordination with the Lebanese army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and are expected to determine the nature of the substances used and assess their potential impact on agriculture, the environment and public health.

UNIFIL said on the weekend that Israeli forces had dispersed an unknown chemical substance near the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, forcing the suspension of peacekeeping operations for several hours.

In a statement, the mission said Israeli forces notified it in advance of a planned aerial operation and instructed peacekeepers to withdraw and remain under cover, leading to the cancellation of more than a dozen field activities.

The force described the incident as "unacceptable" and constituted a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, warning that the operation may have endangered both peacekeepers and civilians.

It also raised serious concerns about the impact on agricultural land and the long-term ability of displaced residents to return to their homes and livelihoods, it added.

Lebanon's Environment Minister Tamara Elzein has also requested laboratory analysis of samples from border areas after reports that Israeli aircraft sprayed chemical or pesticide-like substances, amid broader concern over environmental damage in southern Lebanon.

The developments come as Israeli attacks continue across southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement reached late last year, with Lebanese officials and UN bodies warning of mounting environmental, agricultural and humanitarian consequences for border communities.