❗️White phosphorus strikes by Israel devastate southern Lebanon, forcing mass displacement

Human Rights Watch and independent researchers have documented the use of white phosphorus by Israeli forces over agricultural and residential areas in southern Lebanon, confirming the chemical weapon’s deployment during the early days of the recent Israeli assault on Lebanon. Satellite imagery and photos verified that M825 155mm shells released white phosphorus over residential areas in south Lebanon, forcibly displacing roughly 800,000 people.

Experts warn that Israel may be using white phosphorus to create a scorched-earth “buffer zone” along the border, clearing fields and forests to expose Hezbollah fighters. According to a report from Al Mayadeen, between October 2023 and November 2024, nearly 250 instances were recorded, with 39 percent striking residential areas, 17 percent agricultural lands, and 44 percent forests or open terrain. The strikes produced intense fires, thick smoke, and chemical contamination, endangering anyone returning to the region.

Environmental and agricultural damage is severe. More than 2,000 hectares of southern Lebanese countryside were burned, including nearly 900 hectares of dense forest. Phosphorus contamination in soil, combined with heavy metals, threatens crop fertility, reduces microbial diversity, and leaves the land hazardous for farmers and residents long after the attacks.

https://t.me/thecradlemedia/55660