Israel drops unidentified chemical substances over southern Lebanon

The Ministry of Agriculture announced in a statement that, “in coordination with the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces, it has received initial samples from southern areas where spraying of unknown substances took place, as part of official procedures aimed at determining the nature of these substances and assessing their potential impact on agriculture, the environment, and public health.”

Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani explained that “the Ministry has received four samples to date: soil, grass, and leaves, with additional samples to be received tomorrow morning from different locations.” He noted that “all samples will be immediately transferred to specialized laboratories in Beirut for the necessary scientific testing, and appropriate measures will be taken based on the results, in accordance with established procedures. Additional samples will also be sent to a specialized laboratory recognized by the European Union in Greece.”

He pointed out that “the Ministry’s technical teams are working on studying several scientific hypotheses regarding the nature of the substances that may have been used in the spraying operations, including the possibility of the use of highly potent herbicides that could lead to the complete destruction of vegetation, within the context of military practices aimed at depriving the surrounding areas of the means of agricultural production and natural life.”

Hani confirmed that “the laboratory results will be issued within a maximum period of 48 hours, so that the appropriate action can be taken, whether in terms of preventive measures or national and international legal steps.”