Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of unlawfully using white phosphorus munitions over residential areas in southern Lebanon, raising fresh concerns about civilian safety and the environmental consequences of the escalating conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border.
In a report released on Monday, the New York-based rights organisation said it had verified evidence indicating that Israeli forces fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus over the town of Yohmor on 3 March. According to the group, the munitions exploded in the air above populated neighbourhoods, scattering burning fragments across homes and vehicles.
Human Rights Watch said it analysed and geolocated seven images that appear to show airburst white phosphorus rounds deployed above residential buildings. The images also show civil defence teams responding to fires in at least two homes and one vehicle in the affected area.
White phosphorus is a chemical substance that ignites when exposed to oxygen. Militaries sometimes use it to create smoke screens or to illuminate battlefields during night operations. However, when deployed in populated areas it can function as an incendiary weapon capable of causing severe burns, respiratory damage and potentially fatal injuries.
Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, described the alleged use of the substance over civilian neighbourhoods as deeply alarming. He warned that deploying such munitions in residential areas could have serious humanitarian consequences and called for an immediate halt to the practice.
The organisation also urged countries that supply weapons to Israel to suspend military assistance that includes white phosphorus munitions and to press for an end to their use in populated areas.
The accusations come as violence between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified despite a ceasefire reached in 2024. Israel has continued to carry out strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, while the Iran-backed group has launched attacks on Israeli territory, leading to renewed clashes along the border.
Since last week, Israeli forces have carried out multiple waves of air strikes across parts of Lebanon and deployed ground troops in border areas following attacks attributed to Hezbollah.
The Israeli military has repeatedly warned civilians living south of the Litani River, roughly 30 kilometres north of the Israeli border, to evacuate the area amid the rising hostilities.
Lebanese authorities say the conflict has already caused significant casualties and displacement. Officials reported that at least 394 people have been killed in Israeli attacks and that more than half a million residents have been forced to leave their homes.
Human Rights Watch and Lebanese authorities have previously accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions in the region, allegations that have drawn criticism from international rights groups concerned about the impact on civilians and the environment.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency also reported on Sunday that Israeli forces shelled the border towns of Khiam and Tal Nahas using artillery and phosphorus rounds.
Environmental concerns have also emerged in recent weeks. Lebanese officials accused Israel last month of spraying the herbicide glyphosate along parts of the shared border. President Joseph Aoun described the alleged use of the chemical as an environmental violation.
The latest accusations come amid growing international scrutiny of the humanitarian and environmental effects of the ongoing conflict along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.
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