US media reported that the Israeli military used US-made white phosphorus bombs to attack Lebanon, and the White House was “concerned” about this
According to reports from the US “Capitol Hill”, Reuters and other media on the 11th, John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator of the White House National Security Council, said on the same day that the Biden administration was concerned about Israel’s use of white phosphorus bombs provided by the United States in its attack on Lebanon. Reportedly “concerned”.
“We’ve seen the reports and we’re certainly concerned about it,” Kirby told reporters. “We’re going to be asking some questions to try to learn more.”
The Washington Post reported on December 11 that the Israeli army used white phosphorus bombs supplied by the United States in an attack in southern Lebanon in October, injuring at least nine civilians. A reporter for the newspaper found fragments of three 155mm artillery shells in the southern Lebanese border village of Dheira, and the batch production codes found on them “matched the nomenclature used by the U.S. military to classify U.S.-made ammunition.” ”, showing that they were produced in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Arkansas in 1989 and 1992. Weapons experts told the newspaper that the light green color of the projectile and marks such as “WP” found on the shell fragments were consistent with the “M825 smoke bomb” and could be determined to be a white phosphorus bomb.
Shell fragments found in the Lebanese village of Daraa. Source: “Washington Post”
“White phosphorus bombs do have legitimate military uses, and every time we provide weapons such as white phosphorus bombs to another military force, we obviously expect that they will be used for legitimate purposes and consistent with armed conflict,” Kirby said in response. regulations.”
According to Reuters, when asked about US media reports that Israel used white phosphorus bombs in Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Galante said that the Israel Defense Forces have always acted in accordance with international law.
White phosphorus bombs, also known as white phosphorus incendiary bombs, belong to the category of incendiary weapons in international law. They are weapons similar to napalm incendiary bombs. They are difficult to remove in time when they get on the skin. The burning temperature is extremely high and can burn to the bone. At the same time, it produces Smoke is extremely irritating to the eyes and nose.
Reuters previously reported that there were reports that the Israeli army used white phosphorus bombs in military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Human Rights Watch verified multiple videos shot in Lebanon and Gaza on October 10 and 11 respectively. The videos showed that the Gaza port and two rural areas on the Israel-Lebanon border were repeatedly attacked by 155 mm white phosphorus shells. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stated on October 10 that Israel used white phosphorus bombs in its attack on Gaza.
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2023-12-12 17:23:35
