Senior Pentagon officials recommended that the US should provide Ukraine with white phosphorus munitions for use on the battlefield. However, the White House has rejected the idea several times, according to NBC News.
The Pentagon recommended providing Ukraine with artillery shells containing white phosphorus to produce light and smoke, but not for targeting Russian troops. Such munitions are not illegal, and white phosphorus is not classified as a chemical weapon under the Chemical Weapons Convention. However, international law imposes severe restrictions on its use.
The US used white phosphorus against hostile troops during conflicts in the 20th century, including World War II and Vietnam. Now Washington deploys the chemical in artillery shells to produce smoke and conceal troop movements, as well as to illuminate the battlefield.
According to officials, the Pentagon advised white phosphorus shells as part of several aid packages. If included in the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), the substance would not be listed in the package, as it was done with previous weapons and ammunition the US sent to Ukraine but not publicly announced, the source added.
In 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using white phosphorus against Ukrainian civilians, but he did not provide evidence and the Pentagon could not confirm its use.
Human rights activists documented the use of the chemical by the Israeli military in Lebanon and Gaza during the ongoing war against Hamas.
The administration of US President Joe Biden is expected to announce another PDA package this week, as well as another aid package under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The latter funds training, equipment and counselling.
White phosphorus ignites instantly on contact with oxygen. It burns at very high temperatures and is difficult to extinguish. The substance sticks to surfaces, including clothing and skin, causing fatal burns. The chemical also damages the lungs and eyes.
