Scorching the Monk Forest: Israel’s ecocide in southern Lebanon

Scorching the Monk Forest: Israel’s ecocide in southern Lebanon From white phosphorus to bulldozers, the destruction of South Lebanon’s woodlands shows how war was waged against the ecosystem. The border between Israel and Lebanon is a mix of military infrastructure, farmland, villages, and small towns. Among them lies a woodland that is one of the last natural refuges in the zone. Harj al-Raheb, or the Monk Forest, lies on the southern edge of Ayta ash-Shaab, a Lebanese village right on the border with Israel. Its 16 hectares (40 acres) are made up of two adjoining woodland areas, known locally as the Southern and Western Hima, that once enjoyed a degree of protection for their ecological richness and cultural value. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Israel, Lebanon officials meet as pressure mounts to disarm Hezbollah list 2 of 3 Israel-Lebanon talks: Everything you need to know list 3 of 3 Israel launches several air strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon In early October 2023, these slopes were still thick with oak, carob, terebinth, and bay trees. Locals used the small black terebinth seeds to make a local bread, while the bay leaves were pressed to extract oil and produce a traditional soap known for its quality. Low shrubs and wildflowers filled the undergrowth and the open patches. The flowers supported a thriving beekeeping trade, which grew after 2019, when Lebanon’s financial crisis deepened and many families turned to it as a secondary source of income. The local environment, however, was unable to withstand Israel’s war on Lebanon. A year of relentless attacks, particularly in the border area, only ended with a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024. But Israel continues to attack on a regular basis and occupies some areas on the border. Away from the human toll of those attacks - more than 4,000 Lebanese have been killed - Harj al-Raheb and its surrounding areas are ghosts of what they once were. The landscape was defenceless in the face of Israeli air attacks and shelling. Locals returning have found burned orchards and large areas where trees have been cleared. The pollinators that depended on the wildflowers and orchards, such as the Palestine sunbird, have dropped in number. One local official, Ali Dakdouq, said his family alone had lost most of the 218 beehives they owned as a result of the fighting, forcing them to move out of the area. For Hajr al-Raheb’s surrounding communities, the forest was more than scenery; it was a source of livelihood and a vital sanctuary for wildlife. Now, much of it is gone. Widespread destruction Today, the wider Harj al-Raheb area lies silent, partly scarred by the white phosphorus shells that Israel used in its attacks. Satellite images now show what looks like white craters scattered across what was once continuous green cover, along with extensive bulldozing that stripped other parts of the terrain. Ayta ash Shab, a village that once had a population of approximately 17,000 people,...

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