Middle East — 2026-06-08

Israel Deploys White Phosphorus Over Populated Areas in Southern Lebanon Including Nabatieh

BLUFVerified use of American-supplied M825A1 shells across five populated areas creates concrete legal exposure for Washington that allied governments will exploit to press arms transfer conditionality.

A New York Times investigation published June 6 verified social media footage of white phosphorus munitions over Nabatieh, a southern Lebanese city of roughly 40,000, as recently as May 30 and over four other towns since March 12. Munitions experts cited by the Times identified the projectiles as American M825A1 artillery shells that burst midair to disperse burning phosphorus across wide areas 2. Human Rights Watch separately verified and geolocated imagery from March 3 showing airburst white phosphorus over a residential neighborhood in Yohmor, where it ignited fires in at least two homes and a vehicle 3. Israel denies its use of the munition violates international law; the Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits incendiary agents in populated areas but does not ban the substance outright 4.

Analysis
Two independent primary lines of verification establish a sustained pattern across five southern Lebanese population centers, not isolated incidents. American-supplied M825A1 shells link Washington directly to the conduct, generating legal exposure under domestic arms transfer law and creating leverage for allied governments pressing conditionality on military aid. Israel will press Protocol III's multipurpose-munition exemption and cite pre-strike evacuation orders as legal cover, but verified imagery of residential fires in areas retaining civilian presence undercuts both arguments. No observable signal of internal U.S. policy deliberation on M825A1 transfer status has surfaced.

5 sources

Israeli military deploys white phosphorus over populated Lebanese areas - New York Times
NYT investigation finds Israel using white phosphorus over Lebanon's populated areas, again - Al-Ahram Online
Lebanon: Israel Unlawfully Using White Phosphorus - Human Rights Watch
Israel has reportedly used white phosphorus near Lebanese cities and towns. What is it? - NPR
Israel used white phosphorus over Lebanon's populated areas - Quartz