• Human Rights Watch claims Israel unlawfully used white phosphorus in Lebanon.
• Evidence includes verified images from a recent attack in the town of Yohmor.
• Over 394 casualties reported in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli military actions.
• HRW urges suspension of military support to Israel by allied countries.
• Israeli military insists it has not confirmed the use of white phosphorus in populated areas.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israel of "unlawfully" deploying white phosphorus over residential areas in the southern Lebanese town of Yohmor on March 3, 2026. The rights organization's report states that it has verified seven images showing the munitions being used, which resulted in fires in at least two homes and a car in the area. Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanon researcher for HRW, noted that “the Israeli military’s unlawful use of white phosphorus over residential areas is extremely alarming and will have dire consequences for civilians” according to Al Jazeera, India Times, and Le Monde.

In its investigation, HRW reported that white phosphorus munitions are indiscriminately dangerous and can cause severe injuries or death, particularly in populated areas, emphasizing that “international humanitarian law requires militaries to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm” when using such weapons. The controversy surrounding white phosphorus arises from its incendiary properties, which can lead to horrific burns and respiratory damage upon contact, as highlighted by multiple human rights organizations, including Amnesty International in their past allegations against Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera, India Times, and Le Monde.

Despite HRW's accusations, the Israeli military has claimed it cannot confirm any use of white phosphorus in Lebanon, stating its policy prohibits its usage in densely populated areas. Nonetheless, the ongoing military operations have led to approximately 394 casualties across Lebanon, including children and women, as per reports from local authorities and cases documented by HRW. These attacks follow a series of intense clashes with Hezbollah, further complicating the region's humanitarian situation, according to Al Jazeera, India Times, and Le Monde.