BEIRUT, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli aerial spraying operations along Lebanon's southern border have caused widespread damage to vegetation, sparking environmental, agricultural, and public health concerns, and prompting Lebanese authorities to prepare a formal complaint to the UN Security Council.
Local residents told Xinhua that in the early hours of Monday, two Israeli aircraft flew at low altitude over southern Lebanese border areas, releasing dense white clouds over forests and agricultural fields adjacent to the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated boundary separating Lebanon and Israel.
Within 48 hours, vegetation in the affected areas began to yellow, raising concerns over the nature of the substances used and their potential impact on humans, livestock, and water resources, residents said.
Local farmer Jamal Sarhan from the village of Aitaroun described the damage: "After about two days, the plants in my fields started turning yellow, as if an entire season's work was destroyed before our eyes. This spraying threatens crops, goats, cattle, and contaminates artesian wells and other water we rely on."
He called on authorities to act swiftly before the agricultural damage escalates into a "broader public health crisis."
Mohammad Issa, mayor of the village of Ramyah, said the spraying reached residential areas and grazing lands, forcing shepherds to move their herds over 3 km to avoid contamination.
The Israeli army has described the operations as "routine security measures" to remove dense vegetation near the border, which it alleged could provide cover for "armed infiltration."
It said the substances used were "approved herbicides" but failed to provide details about their composition, toxicity, or environmental impact beyond the targeted areas.
Lebanese officials rejected the allegations, warning that the sprayed materials may be toxic or internationally prohibited, particularly as the spraying extended 2 to 3 km north of the Blue Line into Lebanese territory.
President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the operations on Wednesday, describing them as a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty" and "an environmental and health crime" against citizens and their land.
Aoun instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare a documented file in coordination with the Ministries of agriculture, environment, and public health for legal and diplomatic action, including filing complaints with relevant international bodies.
Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani told Xinhua that the issue is not limited to vegetation removal, but also concerns the potential long-term environmental and health risks posed by the substances, especially as the affected areas are used for grazing and agriculture.
He added that specialized teams, in coordination with the Lebanese army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, collected four samples -- two soil, one leaf, and one grass -- for laboratory testing to determine toxicity and long-term effects on soil, groundwater, crops, and human health.
Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Wednesday that it has begun documenting the spraying, coordinating with relevant ministries and scientific and research institutions, to prepare a comprehensive dossier.
The ministry said the file will identify the substances used, assess their legality under international conventions, document affected areas, and evaluate environmental, agricultural, and health damage, in preparation for submitting an official complaint to the UN Security Council. Enditem
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