Over 16,000 hectares of farms, forests burnt in Israeli offensive on southern Lebanon, says minister
Press TV · November 7, 2026
Lebanese Environment Minister Tamara el-Zein says Israeli assaults have scorched more than 16,000 hectares of farmland and forest between October 2023 and September 2026, citing the deployment of phosphorus shells and other munitions banned by international law.
In a statement marking the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict on Friday, Zein highlighted that Israeli forces utilized 1,800 tons of explosives in three demolitions in southern Lebanon.
She detailed the environmental devastation resulting from these attacks, which included fires in agricultural and forested areas, harm to nature reserves, and the loss faced by farmers whose crops and means of living were obliterated.
Furthermore, she pointed out that the demolitions significantly transformed the landscapes of the targeted regions.
“Who will take responsibility for this destruction, and who will ensure that the Lebanese are not abandoned to cope with its repercussions and the costs of remediation?” Zein questioned.
The minister cautioned that the environmental repercussions might endure over time, and emphasized the necessity for monitoring contamination as well as the effects of leftover munitions on soil, water resources, and agricultural output.
Zein shared findings from a Lebanese Environment Ministry report that analyzed three demolitions executed by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
The report indicated that around 80 tons of explosives were deployed in Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district, 700 tons near Beaufort Castle in the Nabatieh district, and 1,100 tons at Ali al-Taher Hill in the same district.
Zein noted that the explosions produced shockwaves comparable to earthquakes measuring 3.1, 3.8, and 4.2 on the Richter scale, respectively, while underscoring that the effects reach far beyond immediate environmental harm, influencing the daily lives and livelihoods of residents.
The minister urged the international community and the United Nations to “assist Lebanon in addressing the environmental damage and hold Israel accountable for its actions.”
She also called for the creation of an independent and effective accountability mechanism to ensure that those responsible for environmental harm are held accountable and required to pay for remediation and compensation.
This comes amid a larger context of ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, with airstrikes, drone attacks, and artillery bombardments targeting the country almost daily.
Israeli forces opened fire near Lebanese farmers harvesting olives and detained a resident during an incursion into Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon on Friday, Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported.
The incidents, reported between early Friday and afternoon, affected the districts of Marjayoun, Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil and Tyre.
Hezbollah launched military operations against Israel on March 2 in response to the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, repeated Israeli violations of the 2024 ceasefire, and Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territory in the south.
Since then, despite months of negotiations, Israel has continued its military offensive against Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported on Thursday that Israeli strikes since March 2 have resulted in 4,390 fatalities and 12,429 injuries.
Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, including long-held positions as well as territories taken during the 2023-2024 war, where Israeli ground troops moved approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into Lebanese territory.
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The Garlic Book — 2026
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The book is in four parts.
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