Lebanon Files Formal UN Complaint Over Herbicide Use by Israel
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has officially submitted a complaint to the United Nations Security Council, accusing Israel of spraying the herbicide glyphosate along their shared border. The formal protest follows findings from the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), which conducted laboratory tests on soil samples collected from the villages of Aita al-Shaab, Ras Naqura, and Dhayra. The government-linked organization reported that the concentrations of chemicals discovered were significantly higher than what is typically expected from standard agricultural use, prompting Lebanese officials to condemn the act as a serious environmental and public health violation.
This incident, which took place in February, has further strained already volatile relations between the two nations. While Israel previously informed UN peacekeepers of its intention to spray a "non-toxic" substance, Lebanon maintains that the action constitutes a flagrant breach of its sovereignty. Beyond this environmental dispute, the Lebanese government also used the filing to highlight ongoing military tensions, specifically citing recent strikes against Lebanese army vehicles that resulted in casualties. These acts, according to the ministry, directly jeopardize the progress of delicate, Washington-led diplomatic negotiations aimed at establishing a ceasefire between the two countries.