Israel used ‘white phosphorus’ in strikes on populated areas in Lebanon: Rights group

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has found evidence that the Israeli regime deployed “white phosphorus” in civilian neighborhoods of southern Lebanon earlier this month, breaching international humanitarian law.

In a new report released on Monday, the New York-based rights group said it confirmed the authenticity of seven photos showing white phosphorus munitions fired over a residential area in southern Lebanon’s Yohmor, with fires breaking out in at least two homes there on March 3.

Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanese researcher with HRW, said, “The Israeli military’s unlawful use of white phosphorus over residential areas is extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians.”

“The incendiary effects of white phosphorus can cause death or cruel injuries that result in lifelong suffering,” he added.

The use of airburst white phosphorus is unlawfully indiscriminate in populated areas and does not meet the requirement under international humanitarian law to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm.

The chemical substance ignites when exposed to oxygen and can set homes, agricultural areas, and other civilian objects on fire.

HRW found that in Yohmor, the munitions were used unlawfully over concentrations of civilians, which resulted in fires breaking out in homes and other civilian property.

At least 31 killed in Israeli aggression on southern Lebanon after Hezbollah strikes

At least 31 people were killed in attacks by Israel across southern Lebanon following Hezbollah’s entry into the front line in defense of Iran.

The organization verified and geolocated an image posted online by Lebanese media on the morning of March 3.

It showed at least two artillery-delivered white phosphorus munitions being airburst over a residential neighborhood.

The shape of the smoke cloud caused by the airbursts was consistent with the “knuckle” made by the expelling and bursting charges of the M825-series 155mm artillery projectile that contains white phosphorus, it said in the report.

It also verified and geolocated photographs posted to Facebook by the civil defense team of the Islamic Health Committee in Yohmor that showed workers extinguishing fires on residential rooftops and in a car.

The organization concluded the fire was likely caused by felt wedges impregnated with white phosphorus, given the proximity of the sites to the area where airburst munitions were observed.

“Israel should immediately halt this practice and states providing Israel with weapons, including white phosphorus munitions, should immediately suspend military assistance and arms sales and push Israel to stop firing such munitions in residential areas,” Kaiss said.

More than half a million people have been registered as displaced in Lebanon as Israel issues forced displacement orders.

Lebanon’s National News Agency said on Monday that Israel carried out a series of air strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including between the neighborhoods of Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik, and in the Safir area.

The report comes hours after Israel’s military, which has been waging days of fierce attacks in southern Beirut, claimed it was attacking Hezbollah targets in the Lebanese capital.

At least 394 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured in Lebanon in Israeli attacks.
HRW urged Israel’s key allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, to suspend military sales to Israel and impose targeted sanctions on officials credibly implicated in grave crimes.

The Israeli regime had already used white phosphorus between October 2023 and May 2024 across border villages in southern Lebanon, the organization said, putting civilians at grave risk.

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