TBM Report
In a damning new report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Israeli military of illegally deploying white phosphorus munitions in densely populated residential neighborhoods of southern Lebanon. The New York-based rights group revealed on Monday, March 9, 2026, that Israeli forces fired artillery-launched white phosphorus shells over the town of Yohmor on March 3. By verifying and geolocating seven distinct visual records, HRW confirmed that these incendiary airbursts occurred directly over civilian homes, marking a grave escalation in the ongoing conflict.
White phosphorus is a chemically volatile substance that ignites upon contact with oxygen, creating thick white smoke and intense heat. While permissible under international law for screening or signaling in open battlefields, its use in residential areas is highly controversial and often illegal due to its indiscriminate effects. This chemical can cause excruciating, deep-seated burns, respiratory failure, and multi-organ damage. Following the strike in Yohmor, at least two houses and a civilian vehicle were engulfed in flames, forcing emergency responders to operate under life-threatening conditions.
Despite the 2024 ceasefire attempts, the border between Israel and Lebanon remains a theater of violence. Since last week, Israeli forces have intensified airstrikes and ground incursions south of the Litani River, claiming to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. However, the humanitarian toll is staggering; Lebanese authorities report at least 394 deaths and the displacement of over 500,000 civilians. The reported use of incendiary weapons in these areas has drawn sharp criticism from global observers who fear a total breakdown of humanitarian protections.
Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanon researcher at HRW, described the unlawful use of white phosphorus as “deeply alarming,” stressing that its impact on civilians is catastrophic. He urged nations supplying military aid to Israel to suspend weapon sales and put diplomatic pressure on the government to cease the use of incendiary munitions in populated sectors. For years, Lebanon has accused Israel of such violations, and this latest evidence provides fresh impetus for international investigations into potential war crimes during the 2026 campaign.
 has accused the Israeli military of illegally deploying white phosphorus munitions in densely populated residential neighborhoods of southern Lebanon. The New York-based rights group revealed on Monday, March 9, 2026, that Israeli forces fired artillery-launched white phosphorus shells over the town of Yohmor on March 3. By verifying and geolocating seven distinct visual records, HRW confirmed that these incendiary airbursts occurred directly over civilian homes, marking a grave escalation in the ongoing conflict.){kind=link}