white phosphorus

White Phosphorus (WP) has been used for more than a century as a smoke producing agent. It has in more recent times also been used as an incendiary weapon. WP is extremely flammable and will ignite when exposed to oxygen at room temperature. When detonated, people within its blast radius can suffer extensive, deep second- and third-degree burns. WP burns have an increased risk of mortality because of its tendency to stick to the skin. The absorption of phosphorus through burned areas on the skin has been shown to cause liver, heart, and kidney damage.

WP is not yet considered a chemical weapon. However, since it can be extremely hazardous in its use as a smoke screen, WP's distinction as something other than an anti-personnel weapon is questionable. In addition, various militaries, including that of Iraq, the United States, Israel, and Russia, have been accused of intentionally using white phosphorus as an anti-personnel incendiary weapon. There are also reports that WP was used by the Iraqi military during its campaign against Kurdish separatists in 1991.

Israel was found to have used munitions composed of white phosphorus mixed with high explosive, modified weapons against areas known to be occupied by great numbers of civilians during the 2006 attack on Lebanon and the 2008/09 massacre in the Gaza Strip.

More information on WMM:

Dense Inert Metal Explosives (DIME)

Depleted Uranium (DU)

Cluster Bombs

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