"From toxic smoke and oil spills to rising emissions, poisoned soil, and damaged ecosystems, war can reshape the environment long after the fighting stops."
"War had already darkened Tehran’s skies by March 8. When rain began to fall, residents said it was thick, foul-smelling and dark in color. Some described it as black rain, coating streets, rooftops, and cars in sootlike residue.
That night, Israel had struck more than 30 oil facilities in Iran. The scale of the attacks and the fires that followed were so significant that US officials later questioned their strategic rationale.
But the damage has not stopped there. From smoke over Fujairah and oil risks in Gulf waters to burned farmland and contamination fears in southern Lebanon, the environmental toll of conflict is spreading across the wider region.
A growing body of open-source evidence, satellite imagery, social media footage, and official statements points to an unfolding ecological crisis across Iran, the Gulf, and Lebanon. The picture emerging is a multifront assault on the environment: on land, at sea, and in the air."
Chris Hamill-Stewart and Ruchi Kumar report for WIRED April 27, 2026.
