[News] NYT investigation tracks Israeli phosphorus attacks in Lebanon

[Anti-Imperialist News]

english.almayadeen.net
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/nyt-investigation-tracks-israeli-phosphorus-attacks-in-leban>
NYT investigation tracks Israeli phosphorus attacks in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen English
June 7, 2026
------------------------------

While militaries often claim it is used to generate smoke screens, its
deployment over populated areas has long been criticized because of the
severe injuries and fires it can inflict.

   - [image: white phosphorus]
   <https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2026/6/7/f81134ae-d483-486d-b1e0-12e9aa42b477.jpg?width=1000>
   A white phosphorus shell from Israeli artillery explodes over a road
   leading to Chamaa village, as it is seen from Tyre city, South Lebanon,
   Friday, March 27, 2026 (*AP*)

Fresh evidence pointing to the Israeli military's use of white phosphorus
in Southern Lebanon has renewed accusations that the occupation is
deliberately targeting civilian communities and agricultural lands in an
effort to devastate the region's social and economic fabric.

An investigation by *The New York Times* documented multiple incidents in
which white phosphorus munitions
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iof-aggression-continues-with-artillery--phosphorus-on-south>
were deployed over areas in Southern Lebanon, including Nabatieh, Tyre,
Qlayaa, Khiam and Yohmor, during the latest phase of aggression on the
country.

Verified footage reviewed by munitions experts reportedly showed artillery
shells dispersing burning phosphorus over wide areas, a tactic that has
repeatedly drawn condemnation from human rights organizations due to its
devastating impact on civilians, farmland, and the environment.
Border communities under attack

The reported attacks come amid continued Israeli aggression against
Lebanon, particularly its southern areas, where residents have endured
repeated bombardment, displacement, and destruction.

White phosphorus ignites upon contact with oxygen
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/washpo-says--israel--used-white-phosphorus-against-lebanon>
and continues burning at extremely high temperatures. While militaries
often claim it is used to generate smoke screens, its deployment over
populated areas has long been criticized because of the severe injuries and
fires it can inflict.

Weapons specialists cited in the report concluded that the footage was
consistent with the use of US-made M825A1 artillery rounds, which release
dozens of phosphorus-coated wedges over a large area after exploding in
midair.

The dispersal pattern can ignite homes, forests, crops and civilian
property wherever the burning fragments land.
Human rights groups document harm

Rights organizations have repeatedly documented the effects of white
phosphorus attacks in Lebanon.

A 2024 report by Human Rights Watch questioned "Israel's" continued use of
the substance despite the availability of alternative smoke-producing
munitions that pose fewer risks to civilians.

"The harm that white phosphorus causes is horrific," said Bonnie Docherty,
a senior arms advisor at Human Rights Watch. "It inflicts burns that can
penetrate to the bone."

She added that the smoke generated by the substance "causes severe
respiratory damage and organ failure. Wounds can reignite when bandages are
removed, and remnants of the substance are exposed to oxygen."

Human rights advocates argue that the repeated use of such munitions near
civilian communities cannot be separated from their foreseeable
consequences, including displacement, environmental destruction and
long-term health risks.
Agricultural devastation and environmental damage

Lebanese authorities have repeatedly raised concerns before the United
Nations regarding "Israel's" use of white phosphorus in the South.

Official complaints submitted to international bodies cite hundreds of
fires linked to the attacks, many of which have damaged agricultural land,
forests and civilian property.

Experts warn that contamination may persist long after the strikes
themselves.

"There are understudied risks with long-term exposure to its smoke," said
Wim Zwijnenburg of the Dutch peace organization PAX. "We also know that
residents and farmers can face loss of access to their land and they often
need specialized clearance operations after."

For many communities in Southern Lebanon, agriculture represents a primary
source of livelihood. The destruction of olive groves, tobacco fields, and
forested areas
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-scorched-earth----israel--burns-south-lebanon-with-white-ph>
has therefore been viewed not only as environmental damage but also as an
attack on the economic resilience of border villages.
'Israel' defends use of the munitions

The Israeli military declined to comment on several specific incidents
identified in the investigation but maintained that its procedures comply
with international law.

Despite those claims, rights organizations and Lebanese officials continue
to argue that the repeated appearance of white phosphorus over populated
areas raises serious questions about compliance with international
humanitarian law
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--shelled-southern-regions-with-banned-cluster-bombs>
and
the protection of civilians.

The latest findings are likely to intensify calls for accountability as
Southern Lebanon continues to bear the consequences of Israeli attacks that
have left entire communities displaced and large stretches of land scarred
by fire.

*Read more: IOF aggression on Beirut Southern Suburb: One killed, several
injured
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iof-aggression-hits-beirut-southern-suburb-amid-us-brokered>*
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