According to media reports, Israel also used controversial phosphorus munitions in an attack on southern Lebanon in October. The human rights organizations HRW and Amnesty complained at the time that the weapon had been used in residential areas. There were also reports of several injuries. The US government is concerned about this and is now investigating the allegations itself.
“We have seen the reports and are very concerned about them. We will ask questions and try to learn a little more,” National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby said Monday. The production codes on the shells match the designation the U.S. military uses to categorize domestically manufactured ammunition, according to the Washington Post.
In addition, other markings and inscriptions would indicate white phosphorus, the report said. The newspaper cites its own analysis of shrapnel found in a small village in Lebanon.
Highly flammable and toxic
White phosphorus is extremely flammable. The toxic substance is used militarily in incendiary devices, signal equipment, tracer ammunition and smoke bombs and can cause serious burns. The use of white phosphorus against military targets is controversial, but not prohibited. The 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) only excludes the use of incendiaries against civilians. However, Israel is accused of using it precisely in populated areas.
American-made phosphorus munition
The grenades containing white phosphorus come from American production. In this context, Kirby clarified: “Every time we supply things like white phosphorus to another military, we do so with the full expectation that it will be used in accordance with these legitimate purposes and in accordance with the international laws of war.” The Israeli government denies using white phosphorus against targets.
Source: Krone
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