Lebanon’s foreign ministry announced that it has filed a complaint with the United Nations over Israel’s alleged use of the herbicide glyphosate on Lebanese territory near the border earlier this year. Glyphosate is a chemical commonly used to kill weeds, but when found in high concentrations, it can pose risks to the environment and potentially to human health.
In a statement released on Sunday, the ministry said it had submitted a letter to both the UN Security Council and the UN secretary-general regarding the February incident, which took place roughly one month before the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted on March 2.
According to the ministry, 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 in high concentrations. The levels detected were described as far exceeding those typically found in agricultural areas after standard farming use.
The complaint was based on findings from the National Council for Scientific Research, a government-affiliated institution.
At the time of the incident, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon reported that Israel had informed it of plans to spray what it called a “non-toxic chemical substance” near the border and had advised peacekeepers to take shelter.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the spraying, calling it a blatant breach of Lebanese sovereignty and an environmental and health-related crime.
The ministry’s statement added that Lebanon has also lodged a complaint with the Security Council over ongoing Israeli attacks, including the targeting of a Lebanese army vehicle earlier this month that resulted in the deaths of two officers and a soldier.
Referring to the direct negotiations underway between Israel and Lebanon to end the hostilities, the statement warned that Israel’s attacks on Lebanese army personnel directly jeopardize these diplomatic efforts.
