Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of using white phosphorus in southern Lebanon

On March 3, 2026, the non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the Israeli military of illegally using white phosphorus munitions over the Lebanese community of Yohmor. HRW stated that they verified and geolocated seven separate instances where white phosphorus munitions exploded over residential areas, leading to fires that required intervention from civil defense teams. The organization alleges that these munitions were fired from artillery shortly after the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Separately, the Lebanese official news agency ANI reported on Sunday that Israel targeted the border areas of Tal Nahas and Khiam with artillery fire involving white phosphorus. While white phosphorus has legal military applications, such as creating smoke screens or illuminating battlefields, its use as an incendiary weapon in populated areas is contested due to the risk of severe burns, respiratory damage, and organ failure. The Israeli military has not provided a specific counter-statement in these reports. The incidents mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two parties.