War in the Middle East: the specter of an ecological catastrophe hangs over the Persian Gulf

According to the New York Times, on Thursday it extended over more than 50 km2 and “more than 3,000 barrels of oil” could be found at sea. In the absence of effective treatment, entire marine ecosystems are in danger. On Saturday, however, Ceobs noted that the water table had significantly reduced. “The cause and origin of the slick remain unknown,” says the NGO.

2 Atmospheric pollution

Targeting energy infrastructure is part of the strategies of the belligerents, with the aim of weakening the economy of the enemy country, but also of reducing the resilience of populations and the political stability of States, as analyzed by our colleagues at Reporterre, in an article from March 10. But this is not without consequences for the environment. One of the most notable examples is the attack by the Israeli army on around thirty Iranian oil sites, including four major depots and a refinery near Tehran, on March 8. Result: a plume of black smoke and acid rain, loaded with benzene, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other fine particles. The population was exposed to this atmospheric pollution, with short-term repercussions on respiratory and cardiovascular health and, in the event of prolonged exposure, an increase in the risk of cancer, as well as certain neurological disorders.

3 Soil and water contaminated by military and urban debris

According to an article published by the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (Iris), on March 13, 2026, ammunition explosions and military debris are responsible for soil contamination, because of the heavy metals they may contain such as lead, cadmium, nickel. The same goes for destroyed urban buildings, potential sources of asbestos, industrial chemicals, etc.

In southern Lebanon and in the Beeka, to the east, phosphorus concentrations reaching up to 1,858 parts per million (ppm), or more than 90 times the levels considered normal (15 – 20 ppm) were measured between 2023 and 2025, according to information from our colleagues from the “Green” media.

Added to these pollutants are hydrocarbon flows, which are subsequently found in food but also in groundwater. This deterioration of water resources comes at a time when Iran is already facing major water stress, according to Iris.

4 An increase in greenhouse gases

This conflict also has indirect environmental consequences, as explained in the Reporterre article: longer flight paths and maritime routes to bypass the conflict zone, an increase in oil production to counterbalance the surge in prices as well as greater quantities of CO2 emitted. Already in 2022, a report published by Ceobs and the Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) established that the world’s armies and their supply chains are responsible for around 5.5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. More recently, an analysis by the Climate and Community Institute, relayed by The Guardian, reveals that the war in Iran has already generated more than 5 million tonnes of CO2 in just two weeks, at the beginning of March, which is greater than the totality of Iceland’s emissions in 2024. Data that will only increase as the conflict continues.