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Grave concern is being expressed over an environmental crisis unfolding off the Lebanese coast, where thousands of tonnes of fuel has spilled into the sea after Israeli aircraft bombed a power plant.
The United Nations Environmental Programme says the oil slick, caused by the destruction of the Jiyyeh power utility 30km south of Beirut, is now affecting up to 80km of the Lebanese coastline and threatening that of Syria, too.
Israeli forces bombed the tanks at the power station on July 14 and July 15, a few days into their offensive on Lebanon.
Lebanese Environment Minister Yacub Sarraf says between 10,000 and 15,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil have spilled out into the sea, covering once golden beaches and rocks with black sludge.
He says it is the biggest environmental catastrophe that the Mediterranean has known.
