What are white phosphorus bombs?

Transcript

00:00This is what a white phosphorus bomb explosion looks like.

00:11The plumes of smoke when inhaled cause sudden scarring of lungs, suffocate people to death,

00:16and melt flesh just like the napalm bomb.

00:22White phosphorus is a colorless or yellowish translucent, wax-like substance that smells

00:27a bit like garlic and ignites on contact with oxygen.

00:31When used, it's characterized by a loud bang and a plume of bright white smoke.

00:35It can stay dormant in the ground, but exposure to air causes it to ignite immediately.

00:40Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, white phosphorus is not considered a chemical weapon,

00:44and is thus used on battlefields to make smoke screens, generate illumination, mark targets,

00:49or burn bunkers and buildings.

00:51But it is illegal to use it as an incendiary weapon in war zones and in heavily populated

00:56civilian areas.

00:58It burns fiercely and can inflict horrific injuries, kill and burn to the bone, and its

01:02usage constitutes a war crime.

01:04White phosphorus bombs were called Willie Pete and were used during World War I and

01:08World War II.

01:09The Pentagon acknowledged the use of white phosphorus munitions in the Iraqi city of

01:14Fallujah in 2004.

01:16In 2008-2009, it was used by Israel on civilian areas during its recurring military campaigns

01:22in Gaza.

01:23Israel has been using artillery-fired white phosphorus in southern Lebanon and Gaza since

01:28October 2023, according to Human Rights Watch.

01:32At least 173 people have been reportedly injured by exposure to white phosphorus in Lebanon

01:38between October and late May.

01:40In recent days, Lebanese media accused Israel of dropping phosphorus bombs in the country's

01:45capital Beirut.

01:47HRW says Israel's use of airburst white phosphorus munitions in populated areas indiscriminately

01:54harms civilians and has led many to leave their homes.