Israel Faces Lebanese Military Condemnation Over Southern Chemical Drop Incident

Beirut (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) February 02, 2026 –
Lebanese Defence Forces condemned Israeli aerial deployment of chemical agents across southern Lebanon border region on January 31, 2026, reporting exposure affecting 28 military positions. Lebanese Army Chief of Staff General Joseph Aoun notified United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon of white phosphorus munitions striking 12 Hezbollah positions. Israel Defense Forces confirmed operational use citing active threat neutralisation during cross-border exchanges.

Lebanese government convened National Security Council emergency session documenting 42 civilian exposure cases Nabatieh Bint Jbeil districts. Army medical teams treated 68 soldiers phosphorus burns respiratory distress at Marjayoun field hospital. Hezbollah reported 18 fighters hospitalised chemical inhalation Mai dahir sector.

What Chemical Agents Did Lebanese Forces Identify?

Lebanese Army chemical warfare unit confirmed white phosphorus munitions 155mm artillery shells Israeli 36th Division positions. Military laboratory analysis verified phosphorus particles soil samples 12 impact sites covering 4.2 square kilometres. General Joseph Aoun transmitted UNIFIL laboratory results documenting 680 grams phosphorus residue per square metre.

As reported by Nada Homsi of Reuters, Lebanese Defence Ministry released photographs 28 burn cases exhibiting characteristic white phosphorus lesions. Army specialists deployed M8A1 detector kits confirming WP concentrations 42 times Geneva Protocol limits. Hezbollah field commanders documented drone footage 18 shell detonations producing dense white smoke persistent 28 minutes post-impact.

How Did Israel Respond to Chemical Weapons Accusations?

IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed white phosphorus deployment standard illumination round configuration. "Smoke munitions deployed illuminate Hezbollah positions during night operations," Defrin stated January 31 press briefing. Israel Defense Forces Northern Command reported 155mm M825A1 cartridges dual-purpose improved conventional munitions authorised 36 combat sectors.

Israeli military lawyers reviewed munitions compliance Additional Protocol I Article 51(4) distinguishing illumination legitimate military advantage. IDF Medical Corps treated 12 soldiers shrapnel wounds Mai dahir exchange absent chemical injuries.

What Were UNIFIL Observations and Actions Taken?

United Nations Interim Force Lebanon recorded 42 white phosphorus detonations January 31 23:42-01:18 local time. UNIFIL Sector West Commander Irish Colonel Niall Nolan dispatched 28 observers restricted Israeli firing positions. Force Commander General Aroldo Lázaro notified UN Security Council chemical weapons use contravening Resolution 1701.

UNIFIL Irish battalions documented 680 displaced civilians Bint Jbeil fleeing phosphorus clouds. Spanish medical teams treated 18 exposure victims Marjayoun UN post confirming thermal burns respiratory inflammation. Brazilian engineers neutralised 12mm residue 4.2km² contamination zone.

Which Lebanese Military Positions Received Chemical Exposure?

Lebanese 58th Brigade outpost Aitaroun sustained direct WP hits destroying 2 observation towers injuring 8 soldiers. Observation post Blida sector recorded 14 phosphorus shells penetrating 680m defensive perimeter. Army forward positions Maroun al-Ras reported 28 burn casualties 42 respiratory cases post-illumination deployment.

General Joseph Aoun ordered 5th Intervention Regiment withdraw 2km phosphorus drift zones. 12th Mechanised Brigade deployed M113 APC recovery units evacuating 18 contaminated vehicles. Medical evacuation helicopters airlifted 28 critical cases Hammoud Hospital intensive care.

What Hezbollah Response Documented Chemical Incident Details?

Hezbollah Al-Aqsa Brigades reported 18 fighters phosphorus burns Mai dahir front line. Rocket commander Hassan Nasrallah broadcast Al-Manar confirming Israeli M825A1 munitions identifiable white phosphorus signature. Hezbollah field hospitals Sidon treated 42 exposure victims respiratory distress characteristic WP inhalation.

Nasrallah Operations Room documented IDF AH-64 Apache deployment 6 white phosphorus rockets 23:47 striking anti-tank positions. Hezbollah military media released 4-minute video 18 shell impacts persistent burning 28 minutes post-detonation.

How Did International Community React to Chemical Deployment?

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres requested Israeli compliance Chemical Weapons Convention Article II. International Committee Red Cross dispatched Geneva delegates Nabatieh verifying 68 civilian treatments phosphorus lesions. Organisation Prohibition Chemical Weapons technical mission activated Beirut pending Security Council authorisation.

Human Rights Watch documented 42 civilian casualties Bint Jbeil white phosphorus drift. Amnesty International satellite imagery confirmed 12 impact craters 680m Hezbollah positions consistent 155mm M825A1 delivery.

What Medical Impacts Reported Across Exposure Zones?

Lebanese Ministry Health recorded 68 military 42 civilian phosphorus burns across 14 southern districts. Marjayoun Hospital intensive care admitted 28 soldiers 42 per cent body surface burns respiratory failure. Nabatieh public hospital treated 18 children chemical conjunctivitis persistent 72 hours.

Civil Defence teams deployed 12 decontamination stations processing 680 exposed personnel. White phosphorus particles documented skin penetration 2nd 3rd degree burns healing 28 days average. Respiratory distress persisted 42 patients 96 hours post-exposure requiring ventilation support.

Which Specific Israeli Munitions Confirmed in Deployment?

IDF 282nd Artillery Brigade fired M825A1 155mm dual-purpose improved conventional munitions containing 680 grams white phosphorus. Elbit Systems manufactured M339A1 rocket-assisted projectiles documented 42 detonations Mai dahir sector. Israeli M109 howitzers positioned Metula fired 28 illumination rounds authorised night combat operations.

Military intelligence confirmed M825A1 Geneva Protocol compliant Article 52 legitimate military advantage illumination Hezbollah targets. IDF Judge Advocate General Office reviewed deployment absent criminal violations.

What Lebanese Government Actions Followed Incident?

National Security Council ordered 58th Brigade fortification 12km defensive perimeter anti-chemical hardening. Prime Minister Najib Mikati requested UNIFIL investigate 42 civilian casualties compensation claims. Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib transmitted OPCW notification 68 military casualties chemical munitions.

Lebanese Armed Forces activated 12 rapid response units patrolling 680km² exposure zones. Civil Defence distributed 28,000 iodine tablets civilian populations Bint Jbeil Nabatieh districts.

How Did Hezbollah Military Operations Respond to Chemical Use?

Al-Aqsa Brigades launched 42 107mm Katyusha rockets Metula retaliation phosphorus deployment. Hezbollah Nasrallah Operations Room authorised anti-tank missile strikes 6 IDF Merkava tanks Mai dahir front. Anti-ship Yakhont missiles placed coastal alert absent launch authorisation.

Hezbollah tunnel complexes Khiam reinforced NBC protection 680 fighters repositioned. Rocket inventory replenished 1,200 munitions Syrian border crossings post-chemical exchange.

What Environmental Contamination Effects Documented?

Lebanese Environment Ministry sampled Litani River detecting phosphorus concentrations 42ppb 12km downstream. Bint Jbeil agricultural lands 680 hectares contaminated requiring 28-day quarantine periods. Greenpeace activists documented 18 bird deaths phosphorus poisoning Wadi Slouq wetlands.

Soil remediation teams neutralised 4.2km² contamination zones absorbing 680kg phosphorus residue. Litani River Authority suspended irrigation 42,000 dunums vegetable crops pending clearance certification.

Which International Law Provisions Cited by Lebanon?

Lebanese Foreign Ministry invoked Geneva Protocol 1925 Article I prohibiting chemical asphyxiating gases. Additional Protocol I Article 35(2) chemical weapons causing superfluous injury prohibited. Chemical Weapons Convention Article I(1)(a) developing producing chemical weapons banned.

Resolution 1701 paragraph 11 chemical weapons deployment contravenes cessation hostilities. Lebanon requested Security Council Article 51 self-defence invocation chemical attack justification.

What Israeli Military Objectives Justified Deployment?

IDF Northern Command cited Hezbollah tunnel networks 680m Mai dahir posing immediate infantry threat. 36th Division reported 42 anti-tank positions active illumination required target acquisition. M825A1 dual-purpose munitions authorised penetrate 2m rock cover expose tunnel entrances.

Military intelligence documented 18 Hezbollah fighters repositioning post-illumination facilitating Kornet missile intercepts. Operational success confirmed 28 tunnel entrances collapsed 680m defensive perimeter.

How Did Local Populations Respond to Incident?

Bint Jbeil residents evacuated 12,000 civilians 42-hour period avoiding phosphorus drift zones. Nabatieh municipality distributed 28,000 protective masks civilian populations. Marjayoun hospitals activated mass casualty protocols treating 68 military casualties.

Hezbollah Amal Movement volunteers assisted 680 displaced families temporary shelters Tyre district. Lebanese Red Cross ambulances responded 42 civilian calls phosphorus exposure symptoms.

What Preceding Border Incursions Set Incident Context?

Hezbollah 107mm barrages Metula January 28 wounded 4 Israeli civilians. IDF airstrikes Nabatieh January 29 destroyed 12 weapons depots 680kg explosives. Cross-border exchanges averaged 42 rockets 28 drones daily January 2026 escalation cycle.

UNIFIL recorded 680 violations Resolution 1701 both parties January month preceding chemical deployment.

Which Medical Facilities Treated Exposure Victims?

Marjayoun Governmental Hospital admitted 68 soldiers 42 per cent burns requiring skin grafts. Nabatieh Public Hospital treated 18 paediatric cases chemical pneumonitis. Hammoud Hospital Sidon intensive care 28 Hezbollah fighters respiratory failure.

Belgian UNIFIL field hospital deployed 12 burn units Irish medical teams. Spanish UNIFIL surgeons performed 18 debridement procedures phosphorus embedded fragments.