On Tuesday, October 8, Israel twice targeted the Litani River Authority’s (LRA) Qasimia–Ras al-Ain irrigation project, which is one of the most important development projects in Lebanon. Initial information indicates that the first strike occurred before 10:00 AM and severely damaged the project, completely destroyed the irrigation channel in the Matariye land area, and severed the water supply to the entire southern coast. It also caused water from the destroyed channel to escape into neighboring agricultural lands and caused enormous damage to the crops. As for the second strike, which occurred around 6:00 PM, it targeted the roads and bridges leading to the main pumping station, preventing access to the LRA’s facilities.

The Qasimia–Ras al-Ain irrigation project, with its 59-kilometer channel, irrigates the entire southern coast. These approximately 6,000 hectares of agricultural land are a key pillar of food security for the region, Lebanon as a whole, and the Lebanese economy.

After the morning strike, the LRA drained water from the channel towards the #Litani River to avert further flood damage to public and private property. This measure was part of an effort to protect public and private property and conserve water resources amidst the emergency afflicting the country.

According to the LRA, the attack not only caused material damage but will also have far-reaching economic and social effects. The complete destruction of the irrigation channel impacts thousands of hectares of agricultural land, causing severe losses for farmers, putting them at risk of losing their crops, and impacting the local economy and social stability, especially given the war conditions.

The attack is part of the Israeli occupation’s policy of threatening food security and severing the water supply to the agricultural lands along Lebanon’s southern coast. These facilities are civilian and protected under international humanitarian law. It is feared that the targeting of the Qasimia–Ras al-Ain irrigation project could mark the beginning of an Israeli policy of starving out certain regions of Lebanon, just as has been applied in Gaza.

International humanitarian law prohibits the use of starvation against civilians as a means of warfare. It also prohibits the targeting, destruction, or deactivation of “objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population”, including agricultural areas that produce foodstuffs, irrigation works, and drinking water installations and supplies (articles 54 and 14 of Additional Protocol I and Additional Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions).

In this context, the targeting of the irrigation project not only destroys a resource vital to civilians’ survival but also exacerbates the economic and social effects on the locals by destroying thousands of hectares of agricultural land and threatening crops. Thus, these attacks violate international humanitarian law, which seeks to protect the civilian population and prevent means of warfare that target its ability to endure and survive.

This article is an edited translation from Arabic.