Human Rights Watch has accused the Israeli military of using white phosphorus munitions over residential areas in southern Lebanon, saying the action may have put civilians at serious risk and could violate international law.





In a report released this week, the organization said the incident happened on March 3 in the Lebanese town of Yohmor. According to the group, the use of this type of weapon near homes could cause severe burns, fires, and long-term injuries to civilians.

Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, said that white phosphorus can have devastating effects when used in populated areas, warning that the substance can cause deadly injuries and permanent suffering.

Images reviewed by investigators

The rights group said it examined several photos and videos that appear to show white phosphorus being used above a residential neighborhood, followed by fires that emergency crews were seen trying to control.

Reuters reported that it was not able to independently confirm the authenticity of the images or the claims made in the report.

In response, the Israeli military said it was not aware of any use of white phosphorus in Lebanon and could not verify the allegations. Officials also said they had not reviewed the same materials referenced by Human Rights Watch and therefore could not comment on the details.

Lebanese authorities have not yet issued an official statement about the accusations.

Evacuation warnings issued

On the same day the alleged incident happened, the Israeli military released a warning telling residents of Yohmor and dozens of nearby towns to evacuate the area.

The warning came during renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified amid the wider conflict involving Iran and the United States.

Previous reports have suggested that white phosphorus may have been used in southern Lebanon during earlier clashes in 2023. At that time, local farmers tested soil in affected areas to determine whether it was still safe to grow crops.

According to Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research, there were more than 170 reported attacks involving white phosphorus in southern Lebanon since late 2023, with many of them causing fires that damaged hundreds of hectares of farmland.

Legal debate over white phosphorus

White phosphorus is not completely banned under international law, and militaries sometimes use it to create smoke screens, mark targets, or light up battlefields.

However, Human Rights Watch said that using the weapon in the air over areas where civilians live may violate humanitarian law because of the high risk of injury and uncontrolled fires.

The substance is classified as an incendiary weapon under international agreements that restrict its use near civilian populations. Israel is not a signatory to one of the key treaties covering such weapons, meaning it is not legally bound by that specific rule, though the debate over its use continues.

Rising casualties in Lebanon

The recent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah has caused heavy damage across parts of Lebanon. Reports say hundreds of people have been killed and large numbers of residents have fled their homes after days of airstrikes.

Human Rights Watch previously made similar accusations during earlier fighting, but the Israeli military denied those claims at the time.