Israeli Herbicide Spraying Devastates Crops Across Multiple Regions

A disturbing pattern of agricultural warfare is emerging across the Middle East, as Israeli forces systematically spray herbicides on farmland in Syria, Lebanon, and the occupied West Bank, leaving farmers facing catastrophic crop losses and food security threats.

The most recent attacks occurred in late January and early February 2026, when Israeli aircraft targeted agricultural areas in Quneitra, Syria, according to local reports. The chemical assault proved devastatingly effective—farmers watched helplessly as their crops yellowed and died within just days of the spraying operations.

The scale of destruction is staggering. Syrian farmers report losing dozens of hectares of productive farmland to the herbicide attacks, representing not just immediate economic losses but potentially long-term soil contamination that could render the land unusable for future growing seasons.

This agricultural destruction extends far beyond Syria's borders. Similar herbicide spraying operations have been documented in southern Lebanon, where Lebanese farmers face the same devastating crop losses. The pattern becomes even more concerning in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers have reportedly joined military forces in conducting these chemical attacks on Palestinian agricultural land.

The implications of this coordinated campaign against regional agriculture are profound and far-reaching. For farming communities already struggling with economic instability and conflict, the deliberate destruction of crops represents an existential threat to their livelihoods and food security. The rapid death of crops—occurring within days of exposure—suggests the use of highly potent chemical agents that may have lasting environmental consequences.

Beyond the immediate agricultural devastation, these herbicide attacks raise serious questions about environmental warfare and its long-term impacts on regional ecosystems. The chemicals used in these operations could contaminate soil and water sources for years to come, creating a legacy of environmental damage that extends far beyond the current growing season.

For farmers across these affected regions, the message is clear and terrifying: their agricultural heritage and economic survival are under systematic chemical assault, with little recourse or protection available against aerial attacks that can destroy months of work in a matter of days.

Sources

1. How Israel is spraying herbicides on Syrian crops — France 24