Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said that it found evidence that Israel used white phosphorus munitions in residential areas of southern Lebanon earlier this month, which it said violates international humanitarian law.

 

In a report released on Monday, the New York-based organisation said it verified seven photographs showing white phosphorus munitions fired over a residential area in Yohmor in southern Lebanon on March 3. The report said that fires broke out in at least two homes following the attack.

 

Ramzi Kaiss 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 said.

 

The organisation added that the use of airburst white phosphorus in populated areas was indiscriminate and did not meet the requirement under international humanitarian law to take precautions to prevent civilian harm.

 

White phosphorus ignites when exposed to oxygen and can set homes, agricultural land and other civilian property on fire, the report said.

 

Human Rights Watch said that the munitions were used over concentrations of civilians in Yohmor, which led to fires in homes and other civilian structures.

 

The organisation mentioned that it verified and geolocated an image posted online by Lebanese media on the morning of March 3 showing at least two artillery-delivered white phosphorus munitions being airburst over a residential neighbourhood.

 

The report added that the smoke cloud pattern from the airbursts was consistent with the “knuckle” created by the expelling and bursting charges of the M825-series 155mm artillery projectile that contains white phosphorus.

 

Human Rights Watch also said that it verified and geolocated photographs posted on Facebook by the civil defence team of the Islamic Health Committee in Yohmor that showed workers extinguishing fires on residential rooftops and in a car.

 

The organisation stated that the fires were likely caused by felt wedges containing white phosphorus due to the proximity of the sites to the area where the 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.

 

According to Lebanese authorities, more than half a million people have been registered as displaced after Israel issued displacement orders in several areas.

 

National News Agency remarked that Israel carried out air strikes on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including areas between Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik and in the Safir district.

 

The report came hours after the Israeli military said it was targeting positions of Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital.

 

Lebanese authorities said at least 394 people had been killed and more than 1,000 injured in Israeli attacks in the country.

 

Human Rights Watch urged that Israel’s allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, to suspend military sales to Israel and impose sanctions on officials linked to alleged violations.

 

The organisation also said Israel had previously used white phosphorus between October 2023 and May 2024 in villages along the southern Lebanon border, placing civilians at risk.