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White phosphorus allegations
The New York Times investigation described verified videos and photographs showing Israel using white phosphorus munitions over southern Lebanon, including the southern city of Nabatieh and near the coastal city of Tyre, as well as the towns of Qlayaa, Khiam, and Yohmor, after Israel ramped up the frequency and volatility of its war on Lebanon once more on 2 March.
“In an investigative report published Friday, The NYT said verified videos and photographs showed white phosphorus munitions being used over the southern city of Nabatieh and near the coastal city of Tyre, as well as the towns of Qlayaa, Khiam, and Yohmor, after Israel ramped up the frequency and volatility of its war on Lebanon once more on 2 March”
The report said, "Distinctive smoke trails from this type of munition were seen as recently as May 30 in Nabatieh, a city of roughly 40,000, in social media footage."
Munitions experts consulted by the newspaper concluded that, "the imagery showed artillery projectiles bursting midair in Lebanon, releasing streams of burning white phosphorous below — consistent with previous Israeli uses of American M825A1 shells."
The allegations renewed concerns among rights groups and legal experts about potential violations of international humanitarian law, while the Lebanese government has formally raised the issue four times with the United Nations since October 2023, submitting letters to both the UN and the Security Council.
Israel denies, rights push
The New York Times said it directed questions to Israel with the specific coordinates of four locations in Lebanon where the substance appeared to have been used, but it received no response, according to Türkiye Today.
In response to the newspaper’s inquiries, the Israeli army said, "Army procedures prohibit using these projectiles in densely populated areas, with some exceptions."
NPR reported that Human Rights Watch and The New York Times say they have documented Israel's use of white phosphorus over civilian areas in Lebanon, and it quoted Ramzi Kaiss saying, "It can create cruel injuries—life long injuries."
NPR also reported that white phosphorus is not banned under international law, but it is illegal to use the chemical in and near populated areas, and it noted that Israel denies using white phosphorus in a way that violates the law.
Human harm and escalation
The reporting tied the alleged white phosphorus use to a wider pattern of strikes and casualties, including an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon that killed two Lebanese army personnel, while the Lebanese military stated the deaths and the Israeli army warned towns to evacuate north of the Zahrani River.
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A security source told Al Jazeera that two Lebanese army officers—one of them a brigadier general—and a soldier were killed when an Israeli strike targeted their vehicle on the Khardali road in southern Lebanon, and Al Jazeera also reported Israeli air strikes on Tayr Debba and Shaabiyeh in the Tyre district, Marwaniyeh near Sidon, and Mifdoun in the Nabatieh district.
The Ahram Online report said the Lebanese health ministry put Israel’s death toll in Lebanon at over 3,5000 Lebanese killed, wounded more than 10,000, and displaced more than 1.3 million people across Lebanon since 2 March.
It also said the NYT investigation added to documentation by Lebanese and Palestinians and international rights organizations that have accused Israel of using white phosphorus in populated civilian areas in Lebanon and Gaza, while the World Health Organization warned the substance causes severe burns on contact with skin and can lead to respiratory and eye injuries when inhaled.
