Photos verified by Human Rights Watch present Israel fired white phosphorus in populated areas of southern Lebanon.
Revealed On 9 Mar 2026
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has discovered proof Israel used white phosphorus in residential areas of southern Lebanon earlier this month, in violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation.
In a brand new report launched on Monday, the New York-based rights group stated it confirmed the authenticity of seven pictures displaying white phosphorus munitions fired over a residential space in southern Lebanon’s Yohmor, with fires breaking out in a minimum of two properties there on March 3.
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Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanon researcher with HRW, stated, “The Israeli navy’s illegal use of white phosphorus over residential areas is extraordinarily alarming and can have dire penalties for civilians.”
“The incendiary results of white phosphorus could cause demise or merciless accidents that lead to lifelong struggling,” he added.
The usage of airburst white phosphorus is unlawfully indiscriminate in populated areas and doesn’t meet the requirement beneath worldwide humanitarian regulation to take all possible precautions to keep away from civilian hurt.
The chemical substance ignites when uncovered to oxygen and may set properties, agricultural areas, and different civilian objects on fireplace.
HRW discovered that in Yohmor, the munitions had been used unlawfully over concentrations of civilians, which resulted in fires breaking out in properties and different civilian property.
The organisation verified and geolocated a picture posted on-line by Lebanese media on the morning of March 3. It confirmed a minimum of two artillery-delivered white phosphorus munitions being airburst over a residential neighbourhood.
The form of the smoke cloud brought on by the airbursts was per the “knuckle” made by the expelling and bursting expenses of the M825-series 155mm artillery projectile that incorporates white phosphorus, it stated within the report.
It additionally verified and geolocated pictures posted to Fb by the civil defence staff of the Islamic Well being Committee in Yohmor that confirmed staff extinguishing fires on residential rooftops and in a automotive.
The organisation concluded the fireplace was probably brought on by felt wedges impregnated with white phosphorus, given the proximity of the websites to the realm the place airburst munitions had been noticed.
“Israel ought to instantly halt this follow and states offering Israel with weapons, together with white phosphorus munitions, ought to instantly droop navy help and arms gross sales and push Israel to cease firing such munitions in residential areas,” Kaiss stated.
Greater than half 1,000,000 folks have been registered as displaced in Lebanon as Israel points compelled displacement orders.
Lebanon’s Nationwide Information Company stated on Monday Israel carried out a sequence of air strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, together with between the neighbourhoods of Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik, and within the Safir space.
The report comes hours after Israel’s navy, which has been waging days of fierce assaults in southern Beirut, stated it was attacking Hezbollah targets within the Lebanese capital. Not less than 394 folks have been killed and greater than 1,000 injured in Lebanon in Israeli assaults.
HRW urged Israel’s key allies, together with america, the UK and Germany, to droop navy gross sales to Israel and impose focused sanctions on officers credibly implicated in grave crimes.
Israel had already used white phosphorus between October 2023 and Could 2024 throughout border villages in southern Lebanon, the organisation stated, placing civilians at grave danger.
