According to the American political news network (politico), on the 11th local time, John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator of the White House *** committee, said that Biden ** expressed "concern" about Israel's previous reports of using white phosphorus bombs provided by the United States in Lebanon.
Kirby reportedly told reporters on the same day, "We've seen these reports and we're concerned about that." We will ask questions to try to find out more. ”
Kirby's remarks followed another report by the Washington Post11** that in October, Israel had bombed several areas on the Lebanese side of the temporary Lebanese-Israeli border and used white phosphorus bombs in the attack.
Screenshot of the Washington Post report.
At the time of the attack, a Washington Post correspondent found fragments of three 155-mm shells in a small village in the southern border region of Lebanon. The attack burned down at least four houses in the village and injured at least nine civilians. The markings on the ammunition fragments show that they were made in Louisiana and Arkansas in 1989 and 1992, the report said.
Kirby also said that day that the white phosphorus bomb had a "legitimate military use" and was used for lighting and producing smoke to hide the action. "Obviously, any time we supply another army with items like white phosphorus bombs, we have every expectation that these items will be used for legitimate purposes......and in accordance with the law of armed conflict. ”
Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said on the same day that the United States has not provided Israel with white phosphorus bombs since the outbreak of a new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict on 7 October.
Asked whether Israel has used white phosphorus shells against Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Gallant said that "the IDF and the entire Israeli security apparatus have always acted in accordance with international law." This is how we have acted and will continue to act. ”