Kirby on White Phosphorus Usage by Israel: ‘Does Have a Legitimate Military Utility’ 

NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said Monday the White House is concerned over reports that Israel used U.S.- supplied white phosphorus in southern Lebanon but said it had “a legitimate military utility.” 

Speaking to reporters, Kirby said the White House will be asking questions to learn more about the report but noted that the reports are “fresh” and that the White House doesn’t have any more on it at the moment.

“I do think it's important to remind that white phosphorus does have a legitimate military utility, in terms of illumination and cruising smoke to conceal movements,” said Kirby. “And obviously, anytime that we provide items like white phosphorus to another military, it is with a full expectation that it will be used in keeping with those legitimate purposes and in keeping with the law of armed conflict.” 

He added that the White House doesn’t want to see the conflict in Gaza spill out, saying that “we don't want to see a second front, we don't want to see it escalate and widen.” He added that in the context of not wanting another front, the White House is concerned about the phosphorus attacks. 

Kirby reiterated the White House’s position against a general ceasefire, saying it leaves Hamas in control of the strip. 

“But we absolutely do support additional humanitarian pauses and we are in active, and when I say active, I mean, daily conversations with our partners in the region, from the Arab states as well as in Israel, about the likelihood of getting humanitarian pauses back in place.” 

Kirby’s comments come after the Washington Post published an exclusive report confirming reports that attacks in southern Lebanon used  U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions. The attack left an estimated nine civilians injured and human rights group Amnesty International has called for it to be investigated as a war crime. 

The World Health Organization said white phosphorus is a chemical waxy solid substance that ignites instantly when it comes into contact with oxygen. Once lighted, the substance is hard to extinguish and clings to surfaces like skin and clothing. 

The organization says it is harmful by all routes of exposure as it can cause  severe burns that can extend to the bone and can reignite following initial treatment. 

The substance is not classified as a chemical weapon according to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). 

The organization added that using the substance may violate a protocol of the the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCCW) if it is used on purpose "as an incendiary weapon directly against humans in a civilian setting."