Amnesty warns against use of phosphorus weapons during Mosul operation

White phosphorus poses a clear and present danger to civilians fleeing Mosul.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Amnesty International warns against the use of phosphorus weapons in the areas controlled by the Islamic State (IS) during the Mosul operation.

Amnesty International in a statement on Saturday stated that the organization “has received credible witness and photographic evidence of white phosphorus projectiles exploding in the air over an area north of the village of Karemlesh, about 20 kilometers east of Mosul.”

Amnesty adds that the use of white phosphorus around the city of Mosul could pose a deadly risk to civilians fleeing the fighting in the coming days and weeks as civilians try to flee IS-controlled areas.

“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,” said Donatella Rovera, Senior Crisis Response Adviser at Amnesty International.

Amnesty urges Iraqi and coalition forces to never use white phosphorus in the civilian-populated areas.

“Even if civilians are not present at the time of its use, due to the residual risks they should not use airburst white phosphorus munitions unless it is absolutely necessary to achieve military objectives which cannot be accomplished through safer means,” the statement read.

According to the Amnesty the white phosphorus poses a clear and present danger to civilians fleeing Mosul towards Erbil who may pass through the contaminated area.

The use of the white phosphorus in the vicinity of civilian concentrations constitutes an indiscriminate attack and can be a war crime, the statement concludes.

 

Editing by Ava Homa