Israel Accused of Deliberately Setting Fires in Southern Lebanon

Israeli forces are accused of deliberately starting wildfires in southern Lebanon through military strikes and shelling, according to local firefighters and residents. They say fires have continued to spread across forests, olive groves and agricultural land near the border, even after a ceasefire took effect, with drones, incendiary shells and flares allegedly being used.

Hussein Fakih, head of the Civil Defense in the Nabatieh region, said much of their recent work has been focused on containing and extinguishing fires. He estimated that around 30 to 40 percent of land in areas near the border has been damaged by fires.

Environmental activists say the recent fires are part of a longer pattern of environmental destruction in southern Lebanon. Forests, ancient olive trees and wildlife habitats have been damaged, threatening biodiversity as well as the livelihoods of local communities that depend heavily on agriculture.

The Israeli military was asked for comment on the recent allegations of fires but did not respond.

Hafez Ghasham, a resident of the southern Lebanese village of Yaroun, alleged that Israeli forces set fire to remaining olive trees and fruit orchards after destroying most of the homes in the village.

Residents accuse Israel of trying to make the area increasingly uninhabitable. They say such actions are damaging not only farmland and the natural environment but also erasing parts of the history, culture and livelihoods of communities that have long been rooted in southern Lebanon.