Israeli forces have sprayed highly concentrated glyphosate over agricultural land in southern Syria and Lebanon, destroying crops and compounding a hunger crisis that already affects more than half of Syria, according to multiple official accounts.
Syrian authorities say 480 hectares of farmland across 70 villages have been damaged, while Lebanon's agriculture ministry, led by Nizar Hani, has estimated the losses at 700 million euros. Lab tests commissioned by the Lebanese ministry confirmed massively elevated glyphosate concentrations, reportedly 30 to 50 times the standard dosage. Farmer Hayel Alabdallah, 81, said nothing has grown on his fields since small planes sprayed liquid over them earlier this year. The UN human rights office expressed concern in February about the spraying reaching Lebanese territory.
Israeli forces have also blocked farmers from their land using bulldozers and arrests, according to reports on conditions in southern Syria. International aid to the region has been cut by half. Israel previously used high-concentration herbicides near Gaza in 2014.