Lebanon's foreign ministry has formally complained to the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel's alleged spraying of the herbicide glyphosate on Lebanese territory near the border earlier this year. The complaint, submitted this week, targets an incident that occurred in February, one month before the latest Israel-Hezbollah war broke out on March 2.
Details of the Complaint
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry revealed that laboratory tests and chemical analyses conducted on soil samples from the southern border villages of Aita Al-Shaab, Ras Naqura, and Dhayra confirmed the presence of glyphosate at alarmingly high levels. These concentrations were reported to greatly exceed those typically found in agricultural areas following regular use by farmers.
The complaint is based on a report from the government-affiliated National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS). At the time of the incident, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon noted that Israel had informed them of plans to spray a non-toxic chemical substance near the border and had advised peacekeepers to take shelter.
Lebanese Government Response
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the spraying as a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime against the environment and health. The foreign ministry statement also highlighted ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including a recent incident where a Lebanese army vehicle was targeted, killing two officers and a soldier.
The statement emphasized that such actions undermine diplomatic efforts, noting that direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon began in Washington in April to end hostilities. Another round of talks is scheduled later this month, despite the two countries having no formal diplomatic relations. Military delegations also held security discussions at the Pentagon last month.
