Southern Lebanon Wildfires Raise Fresh Environmental Concerns After Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire
The widespread occurrence of fires in the southern regions of Lebanon has raised allegations that the Israeli military is causing intentional forest and farmland fires, with firefighters and environmental organizations citing damage to the ecosystem and the livelihoods of people in those regions.
Civil defence forces in Lebanon report that large parts of the region near the frontlines have witnessed fires since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on June 17.
According to Hussein Fakih, head of civil defence operations in the Nabatieh region, about 30 to 40 percent of land near the frontlines has been impacted by fires. Firefighters reported recurring incidents of Israeli flares, drones and other ammunition.
On Tuesday, according to Fakih, flares dropped near Khiam ignited vegetation, while a drone strike close to the area forced firefighters to pull back as they attempted to contain the blaze. Similar incidents have been reported around Kfarchouba and between Jezzine and the western Bekaa valley.
In one case, firefighters extinguished a blaze in woodland near Kfarchouba before another drone allegedly ignited a second fire days later. Fire crews must coordinate movements through the Lebanese army and a deconfliction mechanism involving Israel, and officials said permission to tackle fires was granted in only some locations.
The allegations come amid wider concerns about environmental damage in southern Lebanon. Conservationists say repeated fires are threatening woodland, biodiversity and agricultural production. Hisham Younes, founder of the environmental group Green Southerners, described the pattern as “ecocide”, arguing that environmental destruction could make it harder for displaced communities to return and rebuild their lives.
The impact has been particularly severe in villages such as Yaroun, where residents say olive and fruit trees were burned after extensive destruction of homes. Mayor Hafez Ghasham said most of the village’s houses had already been demolished, while centuries-old olive groves were among the remaining assets lost to fire.
Israel has previously said Hezbollah used wooded areas as cover for fighters and tunnels. The Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment on the reported wildfire incidents.
