Full Breakdown
Lebanese Olive Harvesters Face Ongoing Israeli Military Threats in Southern Villages
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In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Farmers Harvest Olives Under Fire
In the valley overlooking Zibqin, residents climb olive branches to pick fruit while Lebanese Army soldiers stand nearby. The village lies adjacent to Israel’s self-declared “security zone,” where Israeli forces regularly shell the area despite a June ceasefire. Farmers such as Ali Bzieh and Mustafa Barakat have returned to fields they have tended for generations, despite the risk of artillery, drones and unexploded ordnance.
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02
Background & Context
The current season marks the fourth consecutive year that the Lebanese olive harvest is conducted under active conflict. Israeli operations in southern Lebanon intensified after the October 2023 invasion, during which the Israeli military employed white-phosphorus munitions and demolished homes and infrastructure. A Tripartite Framework Agreement created a permit system for civilians to access farmland; permits are issued by local municipalities and coordinated with the Lebanese Army.
03
Data & Statistics
- The Lebanese Army reports 26 Lebanese soldiers killed in 2026.
- The Israeli military reports 38 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon in 2026.
- Environment Minister Tamara Elzein says more than 16,000 ha (?40,000 ac) have been torched since October 2023.
- The government announced 5 million m² of land remain contaminated with cluster munitions, 18 % of the clearance target.
- The Mines Advisory Group has identified 444,000 m² of confirmed hazardous areas for farmers.
- Farmers in Zibqin say the current olive yield is roughly half of a normal season.
04
Official Statements & Responses
The Israeli military told Reuters its strikes target Hezbollah infrastructure, not the Lebanese Army or civilians.
The Lebanese Army, while not a party to the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, has posted casualty figures and confirmed that its personnel have been struck multiple times by Israeli fire.
Environment Minister Tamara Elzein highlighted extensive damage to farmland, noting the use of white phosphorus and the burning of thousands of hectares.
05
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise number of civilian deaths linked to the harvest season. Al Jazeera reports at least two civilian fatalities in early October, naming a retired soldier in Yater, an engineer in Froun and a police officer in Ain Ebel. Reuters does not provide a comparable civilian casualty count, leaving the total impact on non-combatants unclear.
06
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Israeli project is to eliminate humans and living organisms from the land,” — Ramy Zurayk, professor of landscape design
- “Drones are constantly in the sky. You look up and see one, two, three of them sometimes just moving back and forth,” — Khaled Farhat
- “There is a constant fear of being targeted [by Israeli attacks], especially in areas near the sites of attacks, as well as the risk of encountering cluster bombs or other remnants of war, which pose a grave danger to human life,” — Hicham Hoteit, journalist and olive farmer
07
What Lies Ahead
The permit system grants farmers a limited two-week window to work their groves, after which access may be revoked. Local officials warn that any escalation could further restrict movement and endanger additional harvests. Community leaders continue to call for de-escalation, hoping the current phase of conflict will pass and allow a safer return to traditional agricultural practices.