The human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement alleging that the Israeli military used white phosphorus shells fired from artillery over residential areas in the city of Yohmor in southern Lebanon on 3 March, describing the act as "unlawful."
Human Rights Watch (HRW), headquartered in New York, released a statement accusing the Israeli military of using white phosphorus to attack residential zones in Yohmor, southern Lebanon, on 3 March, calling the action "illegal."
HRW said it conducted an investigation using seven photographs that show white phosphorus munitions exploding in midair above residential areas. The images also depict civil defense officials extinguishing fires at least two houses and one vehicle in the area.
White phosphorus is a chemical that ignites immediately upon contact with oxygen. Although it is permitted for creating smoke screens or battlefield illumination, its use as an incendiary weapon can cause severe harm, including wildfires and structural fires, serious burns, respiratory damage, organ failure, and potentially death.
Despite a declared ceasefire in 2024, Israel has continued attacks on Hezbollah. Since last week, Israel has launched multiple assaults on Lebanon and deployed ground forces to border areas, resulting in at least 394 deaths and over 500,000 displaced persons, according to Lebanese authorities.
Ramsey Kess, HRW's Lebanon researcher, stated in a report, “The unlawful use of white phosphorus by the Israeli military over residential areas is deeply concerning and will have severe impacts on civilians.” He called on Israel to immediately cease such actions and urged countries supplying weapons to halt military aid and arms sales to Israel.
In addition to the white phosphorus issue, Lebanon accused Israel last month of spraying the herbicide glyphosate across the border into Lebanese territory near the frontier. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned this as an "environmental crime."
Ramsey Kess, the Lebanon researcher, said in a statement that the Israeli military's unlawful use of white phosphorus over residential areas is extremely troubling.
/sourceHuman Rights Watch