White House 'Concerned' at Reports Israel Used White Phosphorus in Lebanon Attack

This picture taken from southern Lebanon shows smoke rising after an Israeli strike between the villages of Qaouzah and Ramia near the border with Israel on December 3, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
This picture taken from southern Lebanon shows smoke rising after an Israeli strike between the villages of Qaouzah and Ramia near the border with Israel on December 3, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
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White House 'Concerned' at Reports Israel Used White Phosphorus in Lebanon Attack

This picture taken from southern Lebanon shows smoke rising after an Israeli strike between the villages of Qaouzah and Ramia near the border with Israel on December 3, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
This picture taken from southern Lebanon shows smoke rising after an Israeli strike between the villages of Qaouzah and Ramia near the border with Israel on December 3, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

The United States is concerned about reports Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an October attack in southern Lebanon, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.

"We've seen the reports. Certainly concerned about that. We'll be asking questions to try to learn a little bit more," Kirby told reporters on Air Force One.

Kirby said white phosphorus has a "legitimate military utility" for illumination and producing smoke to conceal movements, Reuters reported.

"Obviously any time that we provide items like white phosphorus to another military, it is with the full expectation that it will be used in keeping with those legitimate purposes ... and in keeping with the law of armed conflict," he said.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, asked about the report that Israel used white phosphorus in Lebanon, said the Israeli army “and the entire security establishment acts according to international law. That is how we have acted and how we will act."



US Says Airstrike in Syria Kills Hurras al-Din Leader

Hurras al-Din fighters in Syria. Asharq Al-Awsat
Hurras al-Din fighters in Syria. Asharq Al-Awsat
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US Says Airstrike in Syria Kills Hurras al-Din Leader

Hurras al-Din fighters in Syria. Asharq Al-Awsat
Hurras al-Din fighters in Syria. Asharq Al-Awsat

The US military said on Sunday that it killed a senior official of an al-Qaeda affiliate during an airstrike in northwest Syria the day before.

US Central Command described the person in a statement as a "senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din." It offered no additional details about the strike.
US forces have targeted Hurras al-Din officials as part of an effort to disrupt the militant group.

“We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and US, allied, and partner personnel in the region,” said Commander of the Central Command Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla.