Lebanon on Wednesday accused Israel of using phosphorous bombs in its latest strikes that targeted a residential building in central Beirut, killing seven Hezbollah-affiliated civilian first responders.
Residents reported a sulfur-like odor after the strike, according to the news agency AP. Human right organziations had earlier accused Israel in the past of using white phosphorus incendiary shells in southern Lebanon.
What is white phosphorous?
White phosphorus is a toxic, wax-like substance that ignites at temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Celsius (nearly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit), which is hot enough to melt metal. It is usually colorless, white, or yellow and has a garlic-like smell.
Once ignited, it is very difficult to extinguish and sticks to surfaces like skin and clothing. It can be delivered through various means, including artillery shells, bombs, rockets, or grenades.
Its ability to rapidly spread fires and generate thick smoke across large areas makes it a preferred choice for militaries to create smokescreens, which typically last for seven minutes. It is also used to illuminate battle field and as incendiary as well.
Effects of white phosphorous on humans?
White phosphorus cause severe, deep burns that penetrate down to the bone, and the chemicals can be absorbed by the body, leading to dysfunction in multiple organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and heart.
White phosphorus particles may cause corneal burns and perforation. Exposure to the smoke from burning phosphorus may cause ocular irritation, blepharospasm, photophobia, lacrimation and conjunctivitis.
If inhaled, the smoke from phosphorus may cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract, coughing, headache and delayed-onset lung oedema.
Legal status of usage
White phosphorus is not explicitly prohibited by international conventions and is not a chemical weapon under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), as it acts as an incendiary agent and not through its “chemical action on life processes” (Article II.2 of the CWC).
However, the use of white phosphorus may violate Protocol III (on the use of incendiary weapons) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCCW) if it is used intentionally as an incendiary weapon directly against humans in a civilian setting.
Meanwhile, military use of illuminating a battlefield, creating smokescreens and for signalling purposes are not prohibited.
Escalating tensions
Earlier, Israel announced the deaths of at least eight Israeli soldiers during clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where it recently launched a limited ground incursion.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have launched two drones at Tel Aviv overnight. However, the Israeli military said that it successfully shot down one while the other fell into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Israeli military also announced on Thursday that it had successfully targeted and eliminated a high-ranking Hamas leader Rawhi Mushtaha, along with two other commanders, in an airstrike on an underground facility in northern Gaza approximately three months ago.
Mustaha was a close associate of Hamas' top leader, Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to have orchestrated the October 7th attack and is currently in hiding within Gaza.
In recent weeks, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have claimed the lives of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and several of his top commanders. Since mid-September, hundreds of additional airstrikes across extensive areas of Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,276 individuals, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The Israeli military stated on Thursday that it had targeted approximately 200 Hezbollah sites throughout Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities and observation posts, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 Hezbollah fighters, although no independent confirmation has been provided.
Residents reported a sulfur-like odor after the strike, according to the news agency AP. Human right organziations had earlier accused Israel in the past of using white phosphorus incendiary shells in southern Lebanon.
What is white phosphorous?
White phosphorus is a toxic, wax-like substance that ignites at temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Celsius (nearly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit), which is hot enough to melt metal. It is usually colorless, white, or yellow and has a garlic-like smell.
Once ignited, it is very difficult to extinguish and sticks to surfaces like skin and clothing. It can be delivered through various means, including artillery shells, bombs, rockets, or grenades.
Its ability to rapidly spread fires and generate thick smoke across large areas makes it a preferred choice for militaries to create smokescreens, which typically last for seven minutes. It is also used to illuminate battle field and as incendiary as well.
Effects of white phosphorous on humans?
White phosphorus cause severe, deep burns that penetrate down to the bone, and the chemicals can be absorbed by the body, leading to dysfunction in multiple organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and heart.
White phosphorus particles may cause corneal burns and perforation. Exposure to the smoke from burning phosphorus may cause ocular irritation, blepharospasm, photophobia, lacrimation and conjunctivitis.
If inhaled, the smoke from phosphorus may cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract, coughing, headache and delayed-onset lung oedema.
Legal status of usage
White phosphorus is not explicitly prohibited by international conventions and is not a chemical weapon under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), as it acts as an incendiary agent and not through its “chemical action on life processes” (Article II.2 of the CWC).
However, the use of white phosphorus may violate Protocol III (on the use of incendiary weapons) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCCW) if it is used intentionally as an incendiary weapon directly against humans in a civilian setting.
Meanwhile, military use of illuminating a battlefield, creating smokescreens and for signalling purposes are not prohibited.
Escalating tensions
Earlier, Israel announced the deaths of at least eight Israeli soldiers during clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where it recently launched a limited ground incursion.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have launched two drones at Tel Aviv overnight. However, the Israeli military said that it successfully shot down one while the other fell into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Israeli military also announced on Thursday that it had successfully targeted and eliminated a high-ranking Hamas leader Rawhi Mushtaha, along with two other commanders, in an airstrike on an underground facility in northern Gaza approximately three months ago.
Mustaha was a close associate of Hamas' top leader, Yahya Sinwar, who is believed to have orchestrated the October 7th attack and is currently in hiding within Gaza.
In recent weeks, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have claimed the lives of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and several of his top commanders. Since mid-September, hundreds of additional airstrikes across extensive areas of Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,276 individuals, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The Israeli military stated on Thursday that it had targeted approximately 200 Hezbollah sites throughout Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities and observation posts, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 Hezbollah fighters, although no independent confirmation has been provided.
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