White House demands more information after Israel ‘used US-made white phosphorous during attack on Lebanon that injured nine’
- Israel used white phosphorus in attacks on southern Lebanon
- Human rights groups say it amounted to a war crime in at least one case.
- Now the investigation shows that the ammunition was supplied by the United States.
The White House is concerned about allegations that Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus in an attack in southern Lebanon, a spokesman said Monday.
Weapons filled with white phosphorus are not prohibited by international law, but are strictly regulated because they can cause terrible burns.
The investigation, released Monday, blames the United States for supplying ammunition that wounded nine civilians in an attack in October.
“We’ve seen these reports and we’re certainly concerned about it,” White House spokesman John Kirby said Monday.
“We’ll be asking questions to try to find out a little more.”
A photographer captured the October 15 attack on the Lebanese border village of Al Bustan. It shows the characteristic smoke traces of white phosphorus.
White House spokesman John Kirby said the United States was concerned about the reports.
White phosphorus has legitimate uses on the battlefield, such as marking targets or creating a smoke screen to conceal troop movements.
But its use is deeply controversial, and Israel has already been accused of shelling Gaza City with it, despite laws requiring its use to be aimed at minimizing civilian casualties.
Washington Post Monday said one of its reporters had discovered the remains of three 155mm artillery shells fired at Deira, near the Israeli border, that bore markings consistent with white phosphorus.
The shells throw out pieces of felt soaked in this substance. They burn at high temperatures, producing clouds of smoke.
Production batch codes for the shells reportedly suggest they were produced at ammunition depots in Louisiana and Arkansas in 1989 and 1992.
Kirby added: “Obviously, whenever we supply items such as white phosphorus to other armed forces, we fully expect that they will be used in accordance with those legitimate purposes and in accordance with the law of armed conflict.”
Amnesty International has previously raised concerns about the use of white phosphorus in Lebanon.
It says the attack on Deira should be considered a war crime.
Smoke rises from Israeli shelling in Deira, a Lebanese border village with Israel, in southern Lebanon, Monday, October 16, 2023.
“It is absolutely appalling that the Israeli army is indiscriminately using white phosphorus in violation of international humanitarian law,” said Aya Majzub, deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“The illegal use of white phosphorus in the Lebanese city of Deira on October 16 seriously endangered the lives of civilians, many of whom were hospitalized and displaced, and whose homes and cars caught fire.”
Israel defended its behavior.
According to Reuters, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, when asked about the report that Israel was using white phosphorus in Lebanon, responded: “The IDF and all security forces operate in accordance with international law. This is how we acted and this is how we will act.”