HRW finds Israel repeatedly used white phosphorus over homes in Lebanon

The Israeli military used white phosphorus during its ongoing war on Lebanon, a leading rights group has found, as Israel continues to launch deadly attacks across the country.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed on Monday that Israeli forces had fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus over homes on 3 March in the town of Yohmor in southern Lebanon. The group said the incident reflects a broader pattern of the controversial weapon's use during Israel's attacks.

"The renewed unlawful use of white phosphorus by Israel over populated areas is extremely concerning. More concerning is the fact that this reflects a continuous pattern of unlawful use across numerous areas of south Lebanon," Richard Weir, HRW’s senior crisis, conflict and arms adviser, told The New Arab.

The group verified an image posted online on the day of the attack showing the munition bursting in the air over the neighbourhood.

By verifying and geolocating seven images, HRW said it identified airburst white phosphorus munitions being fired and civil defence workers responding to fires in at least two homes and one car in the area.

Images posted on Facebook by the Civil Defence Team of the Islamic Health Committee in Yohmor show workers putting out fires on rooftops and in a car, with smoke rising from balconies. The team said the fires appeared to have been caused by white phosphorus.

According to HRW, the fires suggest the munition contained felt wedges soaked in white phosphorus. Given the distance between the houses and the car where the weapon landed, the group said the attack appeared to involve the unlawful use of the substance over "concentrations of civilians".

HRW also observed a smoke cloud forming a distinctive "knuckle" shape, consistent with the pattern produced by M825-series 155mm artillery shells containing white phosphorus.

The group noted that Israel’s Arabic-language military spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, issued evacuation threats before the strike, instructing residents of Yohmor and around 50 nearby villages to "immediately evacuate" and move at least 1,000 metres away from the area.

"This investigation adds to the ever-growing body of evidence that should immediately cause Israel's key allies to suspend military assistance and arms sales," Weir said.

"Lebanon for its part can and should investigate these attacks and take the critical step of acceding to the International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute to ensure that every opportunity and fora is available to pursue accountability for serious international crimes committed in Lebanon."

White phosphorus is a highly reactive substance used by militaries to illuminate battlefields, create smokescreens and act as an incendiary weapon, according to the World Health Organisation.

When it burns, it produces chemicals that can severely damage the eyes and respiratory system and cause deep burns that can penetrate muscle and bone.

The use of airburst white phosphorus in populated areas is prohibited under international humanitarian law when it fails to take precautions to minimise harm to civilians.

Human Rights Watch has previously accused Israel of using the substance repeatedly during its war on Lebanon between October 2023 and May 2024.

"A continued lack of accountability or consequences for the Israeli military's repeated violations of the laws of war will only feed the cycle of impunity and increase risks to civilians," Weir said.

HRW documented white phosphorus use in at least 17 municipalities across south Lebanon since October 2023, including five where airburst munitions were allegedly used unlawfully over populated residential areas.

The group has also documented Israel’s use of the substance in Gaza. HRW verified a video showing artillery-fired white phosphorus airbursts over the port area of Gaza City in October 2023 following the start of Israel’s war on the territory.

Although no injuries were reported in the 3 March attack in Yohmor, Lebanon’s health ministry said that at least 173 people had been injured by exposure to white phosphorus as of May 2024.

HRW said Israel’s use of the weapon highlights gaps in international law governing incendiary weapons. Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons is currently the only legally binding international agreement specifically regulating their use. Lebanon is a party to the protocol, while Israel is not.

The protocol applies only to weapons primarily designed to start fires or cause burns, meaning it excludes some multipurpose munitions such as those containing white phosphorus, even though they can cause similarly severe injuries.

Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon have killed at least 486 people since 2 March, following Hezbollah’s attack after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Israeli military has also issued evacuation threats covering the entire region south of the Litani River and Beirut’s southern suburbs, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. HRW said such large-scale displacement raises “serious risks” of the war crime of forced displacement.