FLASH
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded on Thursday to allegations of Israel's use of white phosphorus in Lebanon with a carefully worded statement, denying reports that the incendiary substance was used to start the fire, but acknowledging that it use it in some circumstances.
On Tuesday, Amnesty International accused the Israeli military of firing white phosphorus into the southern Lebanese city of Dhayra, injuring civilians.
On the same day, interim Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Abbas Al-Hajj Hassan accused Israel of burning more than 40,000 olive trees in southern Lebanon using "white phosphorus bombs". The IDF denied this.
" The fiery clouds containing white phosphorus in the IDF are not intended or used to set fire, and any claim that these projectiles were used for this reason is unfounded ," the IDF said in a statement to CNN.
The IDF also said it does not use the incendiary weapon in densely populated areas, but added that "some exceptions" apply.
" This complies with and goes beyond the requirements of international law ," said the IDF.
What is white phosphorus? It is an incendiary weapon, which is used to set fire to military targets, but its use is restricted under international humanitarian law. It is considered legal in some cases, but may not be fired in or near civilian areas or civilian infrastructure. White phosphorus can provide illumination or create a smoke screen in battle, but it is known to burn flesh to the bone.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, "The use of white phosphorus weapons against any military objective within civilian concentrations is prohibited, unless the military objective is clearly separated from civilians."
Human Rights Watch has also accused Israel of repeatedly releasing white phosphorus into Lebanon since the escalation between the two countries began on October 8, sparked by the Hamas-Israel war. Last month, the IDF strongly denied the claims.
Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented Israel's use of white phosphorus in civilian areas in Gaza during earlier phases of the fighting there. CNN also documented its use. A CNN team on the ground in southern Lebanon has seen fires, burning trees and plumes of smoke as a result of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon over the past two weeks. The team filmed abandoned olive fields during the ongoing harvest season.
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