US-Led Coalition Under Fire From Human Rights Watch For Using White Phosphorous Munitions In Mosul

The United States-led coalition has come under fire from Human Rights activists for deploying white phosphorous munitions in fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

It was only a speculation until New Zealand Brig. Gen. Hugh McAslan confirmed the use of white phosphorous munitions. "We have utilized white phosphorus to screen areas within west Mosul to get civilians out safely," he told NPR. This is not the first time that the coalition has used this material against militants but earlier, its use was limited to sparsely populated villages, not big cities.

White phosphorous burns at very high temperatures when it comes in contact with oxygen. Hence using it as an incendiary weapon in areas with big population can put the civilians lives at risk. “White phosphorus can cause horrific injuries, burning deep into the muscle and bone. It is possible that some of it will only partially burn and could then reignite weeks after being deployed,” Amnesty International said.

The use of this substance is not banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention. But it can only be employed to camouflage the movement of troops, not as a weapon. In this case, it is not yet clear, what it was used for.

Legal technicalities aside, the incendiary substance can’t be loosely used. And understandably, Human Rights activists aren’t pleased with the coalition. “No matter how white phosphorus is used, it poses a high risk of horrific and long-lasting harm in crowded cities like Raqqa and Mosul and any other areas with concentrations of civilians,” Steve Goose of Human Rights Watch said.