Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli armed forces of using white phosphorus ammunition over populated areas in the town of Yohmor. The attack on March 3, 2026, allegedly posed a direct threat to the civilian population.

Allegations of white phosphorus use

HRW documents the use of highly toxic incendiary ammunition in the Lebanese town of Yohmor.

Threat to civilians

Munitions were fired over residential homes, violating international standards for civilian protection.

Israel's position

Israel claims it uses phosphorus in accordance with the law, primarily for creating smoke screens, not as an offensive weapon.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Israeli armed forces of illegally using ammunition containing white phosphorus during operations in southern Lebanon. According to the organization's report, an attack using this substance occurred on March 3, 2026, in the town of Yohmor, where the munitions were reportedly fired directly over areas inhabited by civilians. HRW emphasizes that such actions pose a direct threat to residents' lives and violate international standards for the protection of non-combatants. The organization documented the presence of this substance near residential homes, sparking calls for an immediate halt to the use of incendiary weapons in populated areas.

Although international law does not completely ban the use of white phosphorus as a weapon, its use near civilians is strictly limited due to its devastating effects on the human body. This substance causes extremely painful chemical and thermal burns, which can reach down to the bone and are exceptionally difficult for medical services to treat. Furthermore, the smoke produced by burning phosphorus leads to severe damage to the respiratory tract and internal organs of those within its range. Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting human rights, founded in 1978 as Helsinki Watch. It initially monitored the Soviet Union's compliance with the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Over time, the organization expanded its activities worldwide, documenting human rights violations in over 100 countries and promoting changes in international law.

Representatives of HRW have called on the international community to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to eliminate the use of phosphorus ammunition in urbanized areas. The incident in Yohmor is part of a broader escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which intensified in early March 2026. The organization notes that the use of phosphorus ammunition in this manner could be considered a violation of the laws of armed conflict if deliberate endangerment of civilians is proven. Chronology of events in southern Lebanon: March 3, 2026 — Attack in Yohmor; March 10, 2026 — HRW Report; March 12, 2026 — Current situation