White phosphorus bombs
To begin with, in the current conflict white phosphorus is used by Israel on targets, including agricultural land, along the southern border of Lebanon. White phosphorus is primarily used to create a smoke screen for combat purposes. It can also be used as an incendiary weapon: weapons designed to create fire. White phosphorus burns as long as it's exposed to oxygen; it is therefore hard to extinguish with water. It scorches big areas of land leaving it infertile for the foreseeable future. Toxic chemicals like phosphoric acid from the bombs infiltrate the soil and contaminate it along with the groundwater. Parts of the bombs including toxic compounds remain in the soil for years. The bombs also include persistent environmental toxins which, as the name suggests, remain near indefinitely in nature since they are resistant to degradation. The toxins can spread easily through wind and water and are thus far reaching in their impact on the environment, not just in Lebanon.
Israel has used white phosphorus in conflict before: notoriously, it was used in Gaza during a military operation in 2008. After international outrage about these attacks, since attacks on civilians are prohibited under international law, Israel vowed to only use white phosphorus in two unlikely scenarios, which they did not share publicly. The government stood by the claim of only using it to create smoke screens, as they also claim to do in Lebanon currently.
Oil spill
This is not the first war situation that has led to significant ecological damage in Lebanon. The country suffered one of its greatest environmental catastrophes during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, when a large oil spill occurred after Israeli forces bombed a power plant in Jiyeh, a little south of Beirut. Because of an Israeli navy blockade, cleaning up was not immediately possible. What followed was 170 kilometres of coastline covered in oil slick, which threatened the habitat of fish and an already endangered species of turtle. A resolution by the General Assembly of the United Nations was passed by a large majority, calling upon Israel to compensate Lebanon for the environmental damage caused and cover the costs for the clean-up. Israel objected to paying anything. In 2014 the United Nations asked Israel to pay 850 million, but Israel called the resolution biased and still refuses to pay to this day.
Agriculture and biodiversity
Based on lack of accountability from Israel in the past, people in Lebanon are sceptical about how the effects of the current conflict will be handled - effects that are already being felt in Lebanon's southern region where many people rely on agriculture. The olive tree has been a lifeline for the population in the region. Deliberate attacks by Israel on agricultural lands have put a serious strain on the environment. Where some crops have survived the direct threat of shelling, they are still under threat of contamination.
As a result of shelling by Israel with white phosphorus, olive trees have burned down, which is a huge problem because olive cultivation is a main source of income for many people in Lebanon and is responsible for 7% of Lebanon's GDP. 47000 olive trees have already burned down as a result of phosphorus bombs, causing global olive oil prices to rise. Next to its economic importance, the tree is an iconic landmark to people in Lebanon, and trees also play an important role in ecosystems. They provide shade, control temperatures, improve air quality and keep the soil strong and healthy.
The conflict has also impacted biodiversity in Lebanon: as a result of the phosphorus bombs, decades old trees like the citrus trees have decreased in amount. Mammals, birds and fish have died or migrated as a result of the decline of the local ecosystem.
Infrastructure
Next to agricultural lands, infrastructure in Lebanon has also been hit hard. According to the laws of armed conflict, it is illegal to target facilities that are crucial to the survival of people, including water infrastructure. Yet, this kind of infrastructure has been damaged as a result of the Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Further contamination of water in Lebanon has been caused by components of flare bombs and white phosphorus, that are considered toxic. These facilities are crucial in a country with an already instable water management system. Further decline will lead to an increased chance of water-borne diseases and pollution of drinking water. This in turn leads to health risks to people and animals drinking this water.
Waste
Any conflict produces waste, from rubble of destroyed buildings to toxic compounds from weapons. Add to this the fact that waste management has largely stalled as a result of the conflict, and an environmental crisis ensues. Waste is disposed in undesignated areas or burned. Burning or dumping all sorts of waste together causes chemicals to mix or toxic smoke, both of which negatively affects ecosystems.
Governance & green policies
The fact that the conflict has spread to Lebanon means yet another crisis for Lebanon, which has faced plenty of hardship over the past years. The country was considered relatively stable until protests broke out in 2019. After the explosion in Beirut in 2020 and the Covid pandemic, the country has faced crisis upon crisis. Now that Lebanon is dealing with an active war situation it cannot prioritise environmentally friendly policies. The government has already been struggling with effective governance, especially in regard to climate policy. The current conflict will push Lebanon closer to irreversible damage to its environment.
Conclusion
Besides the human suffering, fears for irreversible damage to Lebanon's environment are another reason the conflict should be ended as soon as possible. The Israeli government should respect international law and refrain from intentionally harming civilians or objects vital to their survival, like water facilities and agricultural land, as it has been called upon to do many times in the past. White phosphorus should not be used anywhere near civilians, nor should it be used for anything but its intended purpose, as long as the international community cannot agree on banning it indefinitely. Yet Israel's seeming impunity leads to fears among the population of history repeating itself, with the conflict in 2006 still very present in people's minds. The international community should act decisively in making sure this time around things will be different.
The president of the Green Party of Lebanon will be speaking about these issues and ways forward during our event on this topic. Join us to learn more about the current situation in Lebanon and the region.
More information can be found here.
Sources:
Al Jazeera. (2014, December 20). UN asks Israel to pay Lebanon $850m. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/12/20/un-asks-israel-to-pay-lebanon-850m
Eid, M. (2024, September 6). Israel’s environmental and economic warfare on Lebanon - The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy -. https://timep.org/2023/11/28/israels-environmental-and-economic-warfare-on-lebanon/
UNDP. (2024, December). Gaza War: Preliminary findings on the Socio-Economic and Environmental impact on Lebanon. UNDP. https://www.undp.org/lebanon/publications/gaza-war-preliminary-findings-socio-economic-and-environmental-impact-lebanon#:~:text=The%20outbreak%20of%20the%20war%20in