Fires caused by attacks between the IDF and Hezbollah on the rise since May | ACLED Insight

Forest and farmland fires are an increasingly dangerous feature of conflict on the Israel-Lebanon border as Hezbollah and Israel inch closer to a full-blown war. They are caused by shelling, rocket, and airstrike attacks between Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that began on 8 October, when the Lebanese armed group started firing into Israel in support of Gaza, but have intensified in recent months. Since October, ACLED has recorded 191 incidents where attacks launched by Hezbollah and the IDF caused fires on either side of the border (see graph below). 

In Lebanon, at least 115 forest and farmland fires have broken out as a result of Israeli attacks since October. The IDF’s use of the highly incendiary white phosphorus munition — launched in at least 294 instances — has been a significant contributing factor to the frequent outbreak of fires in Lebanon. Although the IDF claims that it does not use such shells in ways that violate international law,¹ it has been accused of intentionally sparking fires² as part of its efforts to create a buffer zone in the border area of southern Lebanon.³  

Experts warn of environmental damage and long-term threats to public health that can result from the use of the highly toxic substance.⁴ The Israeli military has also used other incendiary munitions that have exacerbated forest fires in Lebanon. In an apparent effort to burn vegetation to expose Hezbollah’s infrastructure and troop activity, Israel has recently also used a type of catapult to lob fireballs into Lebanon.⁵

From the Lebanese side, Hezbollah has launched larger salvos of rockets into Israel in recent weeks.⁶ Amid rising temperatures, extensive forest fires have also raged across northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. ACLED records at least 46 incidents of fires in Israel since 1 June as a result of Hezbollah’s rockets and drones, as well as shrapnel from Israeli interceptors. 

By early July, over 21,000 acres of land had burned in Israel and the Golan Heights in wildfires sparked by projectiles during the current conflict,⁷ a larger area than during the intense 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.⁸ The large fires in the north have increased domestic pressure on the Israeli government to show a more forceful response to Hezbollah’s attacks.⁹

Note: The first version of this Insight cited 15,000 acres burned by mid-June, as reported by ynetnews on 16 June 2024. This was replaced with a 4 July 2024 report by The Times of Israel indicating 21,500 acres.

Visual was produced by Ciro Murillo.