Footage verified by Human Rights Watch shows Israel firing white phosphorus in populated areas of southern Lebanon.
Published March 9, 2026
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has found evidence that Israel used white phosphorus in residential areas of southern Lebanon earlier this month, in violation of international humanitarian law.
In a new report released Monday, the New York-based human rights group said it confirmed the authenticity of seven photographs showing white phosphorus munitions fired over a residential area in Yohmor, southern Lebanon, with fires burning in at least two houses there on March 3.
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Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanese researcher at HRW, said: “The illegal use of white phosphorus by the Israeli army in residential areas is extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians.”
“The incendiary effects of white phosphorus can cause death or cruel injuries resulting in lifelong suffering,” he added.
The use of airborne white phosphorus is illegally indiscriminate in populated areas and does not comply with the requirement of international humanitarian law to take all possible precautions to avoid harm to civilians.
The chemical ignites when exposed to oxygen and can set fire to homes, agricultural areas and other civilian objects.
HRW found that in Yohmor munitions were used illegally in civilian gatherings, causing fires in homes and other civilian property.
The organization verified and geolocated an image published online by Lebanese media on the morning of March 3. It showed at least two artillery-delivered white phosphorus munitions exploding in the air over a residential neighborhood.
The shape of the smoke cloud caused by the midair explosions was consistent with the “knuckle” formed by the ejection and explosion charges of the M825 series 155mm artillery shell containing white phosphorus, the report said.
It also verified and geolocated photographs posted on Facebook by the Islamic Health Committee’s civil defense team in Yohmor that showed workers extinguishing fires on residential roofs and in a car.
The organization concluded that the fire was probably caused by felt wedges impregnated with white phosphorus, given the proximity of the locations to the area where explosive munitions were observed.
“Israel should immediately stop this practice and states that supply weapons to Israel, including white phosphorus munitions, should immediately suspend military assistance and arms sales and pressure Israel to stop firing such munitions in residential areas,” Kaiss said.
More than half a million people have been registered as displaced in Lebanon as Israel issues forced displacement orders.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said on Monday that Israel carried out a series of airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, including between the Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik neighborhoods, and in the Safir area.
The report comes hours after Israel’s military, which has been waging fierce attacks for days in southern Beirut, said it was attacking Hezbollah targets in the Lebanese capital. At least 394 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks.
HRW urged Israel’s key allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, to suspend military sales to Israel and impose targeted sanctions on officials credibly implicated in serious crimes.
Israel had already used white phosphorus between October 2023 and May 2024 in border villages in southern Lebanon, the organization claimed, putting civilians at serious risk.
