Israel Faces Accusations of Using White Phosphorus in Lebanon Strike

A human rights group has alleged that the Israeli military attacked the southern region of Lebanon using white phosphorus munitions, weapons internationally prohibited.

According to AP and other outlets, Amnesty International (AI) claimed on the 31st of last month (local time) that the Israeli military included phosphorous bombs in their artillery during an airstrike on the southern Lebanese region of Dahiyeh. Dahiyeh is known as a stronghold of the pro-Iranian armed faction Hezbollah. The group also claimed that phosphorous bombs were used in the Israeli military’s shelling of the village of Dayr on the 16th of last month.

The village of Dayr, which was shelled by the Israeli military, reported at least nine villagers injured, and several houses and vehicles were known to have been set on fire. Deputy Director of Amnesty, Aya Majzoub, said, “We have evidence that the Israeli military violated international humanitarian law by using phosphorous bombs,” and “Civilians harmed by phosphorous are in a life-threatening situation, and many of them have lost their homes.”

They secured testimonies from witnesses, as well as photos and videos. According to Amnesty, the villagers of Dayr testified that the smoke from the airstrike resembled that of phosphorous, and they smelled a garlic-like odor and stench. The garlic odor and stench are one of the typical characteristics of phosphorous.

Phosphorous bombs use phosphorus, which has a low ignition point, to emit smoke and flames. If this bomb touches the skin, the flesh burns down to the bone. Even exposure to the smoke from phosphorous can damage organs such as the respiratory system and pose a risk of suffocation. Because of the high risk of infection, treatment is impossible unless administered by experienced medical personnel.

Phosphorous, also known as ‘devil’s weapon’ or ‘devil’s rain,’ is prohibited from use in densely populated civilian areas according to international law. Amnesty stated, “The Israeli military must immediately stop using phosphorous,” and “The use of phosphorous has been banned since 2013. Israel is ignoring international law and brutally killing innocent civilians.”

Previously, human rights group Human Rights Watch also claimed that the Israeli military used phosphorous. However, the evidence provided by the group at the time was insufficient, facing backlash from the international community. Israel responded to AP’s request for clarification at the time, stating that they “only used smoke bombs and did not target civilians.”