The Ministry of Energy announced on Tuesday that Israeli air raids "targeted vital water infrastructure." The main watercourse of the Litani River, which supplies the Qasimiya irrigation project in the Arzi region, was directly hit.
In a statement, the Ministry noted that this strategic project draws over 260,000 cubic meters of water per day to irrigate around 6,000 hectares of farmland along the southern coast. With this attack, the Litani River is now out of service in the southern region, threatening Lebanon’s water and food security.
“This crime is a blatant violation of international law and agreements that protect civilian infrastructure during conflicts,” the Ministry emphasized. In cooperation with the Litani Authority, temporary measures have been taken to divert water to prevent flooding of agricultural lands and roads, and urgent efforts are underway to restore the project as soon as possible.