Lebanon Files UN Complaint Over Alleged Israeli Herbicide Spraying

[Mudhab]

Lebanon has officially submitted a complaint to the United Nations, accusing Israel of spraying the herbicide glyphosate inside Lebanese territory near the southern border. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said the complaint was sent to both the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General.

According to the ministry, the incident took place in February 2026, about a month before the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2. Lebanese authorities claim that the chemical spraying affected several border villages in southern Lebanon.

The villages mentioned in the complaint include Aita Al-Shaab, Ras Naqura, and Dhayra. Lebanese officials said laboratory tests and soil analyses conducted in these areas detected unusually high concentrations of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide.

The ministry stated that the levels found were much higher than those normally recorded in agricultural lands after routine farming activities. The complaint was based on findings from Lebanon's National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), which carried out the scientific investigations.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the alleged spraying, describing it as a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and a threat to public health and the environment. Earlier, UN peacekeepers reported that Israel had informed them of plans to spray what it described as a non-toxic chemical substance near the border.

In addition to the herbicide complaint, Lebanon also raised concerns about continued Israeli military actions, including an attack on a Lebanese army vehicle that reportedly killed three soldiers. Lebanese officials warned that such incidents could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts and direct talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at reducing tensions and ending hostilities.

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