Demolitions and explosions carried out by the Israeli army in towns in southern Lebanon, particularly those near the border, are destroying homes and infrastructure and turning large areas into damaged land that is difficult to use. The operations have also prompted warnings that their effects could extend to soil, groundwater and the agricultural sector. Several towns witnessed repeated explosions targeting buildings and homes during September 2026.
In Mansouri, in the Tyre district, about 23 demolitions were recorded on 8 September, involving the explosion of buildings and the use of bulldozers. A further five explosions took place in the town on the morning of 19 September and were heard in neighbouring villages. During the night of 21–22 September, at least 17 demolitions targeted various buildings and homes in Mansouri.
The explosions and demolitions also extended to Mais al Jabal, Tallouseh and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, as well as other towns that experienced shelling, military movements and the destruction of buildings. Among the most significant recorded operations was the demolition of a tunnel network beneath the Ali al-Taher heights in the Nabatieh area on 10 September.
The Ali al-Taher heights demolition and its immediate effects
The Israeli army said it had used more than 1,100 tonnes of explosives in the operation, which sent large quantities of dust into the air, created piles of rubble, blocked a road in the area and spread dust to nearby villages and homes. The demolition of the Ali al-Taher heights coincided with a recorded magnitude-4.1 tremor, according to seismic monitoring data published about the incident.
The force of the explosion prompted warnings about the impact of large and repeated detonations on geological formations and the potential for cracks and disturbances in soil and rock, in addition to the direct damage caused to buildings and roads.
Demolition debris threatens soil and groundwater
The environmental risks are not limited to the force of the explosion. Demolitions and military strikes generate debris and materials that may settle in the soil or seep through cracks and rock layers into groundwater. Fires affecting vegetation, building rubble, explosion craters and the fragmentation of the ground surface also add to potential sources of contamination.
A study prepared by water and environmental resources expert Ahmad al-Hajj and presented at a conference on the environmental repercussions of the war, sponsored by Lebanon’s Ministry of Environment, found that 13.16% of the land covered by the study was highly vulnerable to the possible seepage of pollutants produced by explosions and shelling. A further 70.95% was classified as moderately vulnerable and 15.88% as having low vulnerability.
According to the study, land with fractured karst rock is more vulnerable to pollutants seeping into deeper layers and groundwater, while risks are lower in areas protected by impermeable layers beneath the surface. This means that the scale of the explosions alone is not enough to determine the level of long-term contamination; the risk is also linked to the geological composition of each area.
Soil samples detect heavy metals in the south
An independent soil-monitoring project, based on samples collected in August 2025 from the Nabatieh and Marjayoun areas, found significant increases in levels of heavy metals associated with military activities, including lead, antimony, copper and zinc, compared with historical samples dating from 2001. The study recorded localised contamination hotspots near areas subjected to heavy shelling, particularly Houla.
A report on water quality in the lower Litani River basin also concluded that increases in some pollutants could be linked to shelling and explosions, either through their direct seepage into water or their transfer from contaminated soil. The report warned that contamination could reach groundwater and springs in southern Lebanon, potentially affecting public health and agriculture.
These findings leave farming communities facing risks to soil fertility, water quality and the safety of produce, as well as the difficulty of residents returning to towns whose homes and service networks have been destroyed. Determining the ultimate impact will require field samples from soil, water and plants, with the results compared with pre-demolition levels to identify areas requiring remediation and ongoing monitoring.
