Lebanese firefighters claim that Israel is deliberately starting fires in southern Lebanon. The flames are destroying the entire ecosystem, including forests and agricultural land.

BEIRUT – Firefighters, residents, and environmental organizations in southern Lebanon are accusing the Israeli army of deliberately starting large fires that have engulfed forests, olive groves, and agricultural land near the Israel-Lebanon border in recent weeks. According to eyewitness accounts, drones, flares, and other incendiary devices are allegedly being used to ignite vegetation. Israel denies these allegations and claims that its military operations are aimed at security threats posed by Hezbollah.

According to local firefighters, the situation is extremely difficult. Hussein Fakih, head of civil defense in the Nabatieh region, stated that fighting fires has become one of the main tasks for rescuers recently. He estimates that in some areas near the front line, approximately 30 to 40 percent of the territory has been affected by fires. Firefighting teams also point out that their work is complicated by ongoing military activity. In some cases, they reportedly had to withdraw from burning areas after Israeli drones appeared nearby or after other attacks occurred.

Similar incidents are not entirely new in southern Lebanon. For example, in July 2025, Lebanese media reported on fires that were allegedly caused by the dropping of incendiary grenades from Israeli drones. At that time, the fires affected forest areas near Yater and Hamoul. The Lebanese army has also previously released information about devices that it claims were used to transport flammable materials from Israeli territory into southern Lebanon. In January 2024, Lebanese armed forces, together with UNIFIL units, announced the discovery of five hoses leading from territory controlled by Israel towards the Lebanese areas of Labbouneh and Aita al-Shaab. The army stated that they were intended for pumping flammable materials.

Lebanese Army

Environmental organizations are calling the current fires part of a broader destruction of the environment. They warn of long-term consequences for forest ecosystems, biodiversity, soil, and agriculture. Olive groves, which represent an important source of livelihood for local residents, are particularly vulnerable. The Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research has previously documented extensive damage to forests and agricultural land as a result of Israeli military operations. However, the question of whether the current fires are deliberately set as part of a military strategy remains a subject of dispute. Available testimonies and documentation support the claims made by the Lebanese side regarding the repeated use of incendiary devices, but the intent and extent of any potential coordinated strategy require independent verification.

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