Key facts
- Two people were killed in an attack on an orchard in al-Housh municipality, Tyre district, southern Lebanon.
- The victims were transferred to a local hospital by an ambulance team.
- Past conflicts have caused extensive environmental damage in southern Lebanon, including destruction of orchards and farmland.
- Experts suggest that deliberate targeting of natural resources may constitute a breach of international environmental law.
- Significant agricultural land and olive trees were lost during the 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Two individuals were killed in an attack on an orchard in al-Housh municipality, located in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, according to the National News Agency. An ambulance team transported the victims to a local hospital following the incident.
Beyond the immediate fatalities, the region continues to grapple with the extensive ecological devastation resulting from past conflicts. A year after a nominal ceasefire ended active fighting, southern Lebanon bears significant environmental scars. Avocado orchards and beehives have been destroyed, impacting livelihoods, while fields and forests have been ravaged by fires, including those caused by white phosphorus shelling. Shrapnel and unexploded ordnance also remain a persistent threat.
The 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel inflicted considerable damage on Lebanon's environment. Experts in Middle East studies and environmental law suggest that Israel's actions, including the deliberate targeting of natural resources, may constitute a grave breach of international environmental law and potentially war crimes. During the conflict, Lebanon lost approximately 1,910 hectares of prime farmland, 47,000 olive trees, and around 1,200 hectares of oak forests, according to Lebanese state figures. Amnesty International reported that Israel used white phosphorus, a substance that burns intensely, in densely populated villages, leading to civilian casualties and long-term injuries, as well as destroying harvests and igniting widespread fires in forests and natural habitats. The use of cluster munitions, which are banned by international law, has further contaminated the soil and water with heavy metals and hazardous materials, posing a long-term threat to agriculture and the economy.