President Joseph Aoun instructed the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday to investigate Israel’s spraying of an unknown substance on southern Lebanese land to document the violations for international bodies.
He declared that “these dangerous practices…require the international community and relevant United Nations organizations to assume their responsibility to end these aggressions and protect Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
On Sunday, Israeli aircraft flying over southern Lebanon sprayed an unidentified substance near villages in the Bint Jbeil region. Aoun condemned the release of chemicals as a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and possible breach of international law.
Since 2023, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has seen environmental ramifications resulting from Israeli operations with chemicals and munitions affecting the viability of agricultural land and negatively impacting ecosystems and biodiversity. Over this time period, a total of $700 million in damage to agriculture is estimated to have been carried out by Israel, according to a U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization report.
The investigation will coordinate across the health, environment, and agricultural ministries to assess the toxicity of the substance and its effects on public health, agricultural land, and water resources in tandem with residents and local authorities. The inquiry aims to prepare for the use of available legal and diplomatic means to issue a formal complaint to the U.N. Security Council
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