Lebanon Environmental Damage Exceeds $512 Million Due to War

Beirut. The environmental damage caused by the war in Lebanon has exceeded 512 million US dollars, Environment Minister Tamara Al-Jenaid said on Wednesday. She informed that more than seven thousand hectares of forest and jungle area have been destroyed due to wildfires in the southern part of the country since 2023.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Minister Al-Jenaid termed the Israeli attacks as 'environmental crime' and said that the environmental damage is a part of the overall war-induced direct damage. The direct economic damage caused by the war is estimated to reach up to 11 billion US dollars.

Minister Al-Jenaid said that although the government is in a financially weak condition and security challenges remain in the southern region, a detailed plan is necessary for environmental restoration.

Although a framework agreement was recently reached to end the cross-border conflict between Israel and Lebanon, restoration efforts have been advanced while Israeli military activity continues in southern Lebanon.