The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israeli forces of unlawfully using white phosphorus shells against a village in southern Lebanon.

According to a report cited by France 24, the organization said the controversial incendiary munition was used in strikes on residential areas.

By geolocating and verifying seven photographs, HRW said Israeli artillery fired white phosphorus during attacks on residential neighborhoods in the southern Lebanese village of Yohmor.

The incident occurred several hours after Israeli forces ordered residents of the village and dozens of other communities in southern Lebanon to evacuate, Factor.am reported.

HRW said it could not independently confirm whether residents remained in the area or whether anyone was injured.

Human rights researchers emphasized that under international law the use of white phosphorus is illegal if deployed in populated areas. The chemical substance can ignite buildings and burn human flesh down to the bone.

Even in cases of relatively small burns, survivors may face severe infections and the risk of organ or respiratory failure.

“The Israeli military’s unlawful use of white phosphorus in populated areas is extremely concerning and will have serious consequences for civilians,” said Ramzi Kaiss, HRW’s Lebanon researcher.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Israel, which continues to carry out strikes against the Lebanese group Hezbollah, has also deployed ground forces to border areas. According to Lebanese authorities, at least 394 people have been killed in Israeli attacks and more than half a million have been displaced.

Lebanon’s state National News Agency also reported that Israeli forces targeted the towns of Khiam and Tall Nahhas near the Israeli border with “artillery and phosphorus fire.”

Earlier, the United Nations warned that Israel’s mass evacuation orders addressed to Lebanon’s population could be considered a violation of international law.