Lebanon Identifies Glyphosate in Israeli Border Spraying

Lebanese authorities have identified glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, as the substance sprayed by Israeli aircraft over agricultural lands in several southern border villages, prompting strong condemnation from Beirut as a violation of sovereignty and a threat to public health.

The aerial operation occurred near the Blue Line, the demarcation separating Lebanon and Israel, with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) informed by Israeli forces on Monday that a nontoxic substance would be applied. UNIFIL reported that the spraying disrupted peacekeeping activities along about one-third of the 120-kilometer border for more than nine hours, forcing the cancellation of over a dozen planned operations. Peacekeepers were advised to seek shelter, and they later collaborated with the Lebanese army to collect samples for testing.

Laboratory analysis conducted by Lebanon's ministries of agriculture, environment, and health confirmed the presence of glyphosate at concentrations 20 to 30 times higher than standard agricultural levels. Officials stated that such intensive application is intended to eliminate vegetation, creating barren zones along the border. The herbicide,...