Aoun Criticizes Israel Over Chemical Spraying in South Lebanon

Lebanese President Accuses Israel of Environmental Crime and Sovereignty Violation

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has condemned an incident in which Israeli forces sprayed an unknown substance over southern Lebanese towns, describing it as a “blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty. The incident occurred on Wednesday, with Aoun stating that he ordered government agencies to take all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to respond to the aggression.

According to reports, the substance sprayed by Israel was described as toxic by Beirut, prompting concerns over its potential impact on the environment and public health. Aoun has accused Israel of committing an environmental crime, emphasizing the need for international intervention to stop such attacks.

The incident is part of a pattern of Israeli actions in Lebanon, with the country’s military having been attacking Lebanese territory almost daily since a ceasefire agreement was reached in November 2024. UN peacekeepers, known as UNIFIL, reported that they were forced to suspend operations due to the attack, and later worked with the Lebanese army to collect samples of the substance for testing.

The incident has raised concerns over the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. The resolution remains the basis of the ceasefire in south Lebanon, but its terms have been repeatedly breached by Israeli forces.

In January, Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a complaint to the UN, documenting over 2,000 Israeli breaches of the ceasefire in the final three months of 2025. The Lebanese government has been seeking diplomatic solutions to address these violations, but so far, efforts have been unsuccessful.

Source: Al Jazeera