Lebanese firefighters say Israeli military is starting wildfires in south Lebanon

What happened

The Guardian Lebanon reports that firefighters, residents and environmental groups in south Lebanon accuse the Israeli military of deliberately starting wildfires by dropping flares and incendiary munitions in forested and agricultural areas. The head of civil defence in the Nabatieh region, Hussein Fakih, said an Israeli flare dropped near Khiam sparked fires that forced firefighters to withdraw after a drone strike nearby. He estimated that 30-40% of the woodland near the frontline has burned since the June 17 ceasefire.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The fires reportedly increased after the ceasefire largely ended fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in mid-June, with claims of daily incendiary bombings, drone-dropped materials, white phosphorus shells and illumination flares used to ignite vegetation. Similar fires were reported across southern Lebanon, including large recent blazes near Kfarchouba and between Jezzine and western Bekaa valley attributed to munitions dropped by drones.

Lebanese firefighters must coordinate with the Lebanese army, which passes requests to a deconfliction group including the Israeli military, but permission to fight the fires has been granted only at limited locations. Environmental groups, including the Lebanese conservation organisation Green Southerners, warn the fires are part of a longer pattern of Israeli attacks that threaten Lebanon’s woodlands and biodiversity, with wider ecological and socio-economic consequences described as ecocide.

Known from the source

• Firefighters, residents and environmental groups in south Lebanon allege Israeli military dropped flares and munitions starting wildfires.
• Hussein Fakih, head of civil defence in Nabatieh region, reports 30-40% of woodland near frontline has burned since June 17 ceasefire.
• Recent fires affected areas near Khiam, Kfarchouba, Jezzine and western Bekaa valley.
• Firefighters must coordinate with Lebanese army and Israeli military-relayed deconfliction group, but restricted permission granted to fight fires.
• Environmental groups describe these fires as part of a longer-term pattern threatening Lebanon’s woodlands and biodiversity.

What remains unclear

Since the start of the 2023 conflict escalation, Israel has repeatedly targeted forested areas it says Hezbollah uses for cover and tunnels, though these claims are not confirmed within the source context. Previous reports include Israeli use of incendiary devices and herbicides harming south Lebanon’s environment and health. The Israeli military said its operations take precautions to minimise harm to civilians and the environment but did not comment directly on the wildfire incidents.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of Israeli military involvement in deliberately starting the fires beyond testimony and local claims. Independent confirmation of the type and frequency of incendiary devices and flares dropped. Verification of the extent of fire damage with verified data on burned land area.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: The Guardian Lebanon. Open the source.