A brutal part of warfare, this weapon ignites instantly on contact with oxygen creating a bright "jellyfish effect," and extreme fire.
Now, Ukraine claims it is being used against its civilians. What is white phosphorus?
Now, Ukraine claims it is being used against its civilians. What is white phosphorus?
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00:00In the morning there were phosphorus bombs, phosphorus Russian bombs, killed again adults and killed again children.
00:30You can watch very clearly the jellyfish effect of the white phosphorus shell.
00:51It will burn for approximately five to ten minutes depending on atmospheric conditions
00:55and this causes extreme fire and the potential for civilian harm.
01:24Phosphorus bombs for Europe, by day and night, bombs and yet more bombs.
01:36At proving grounds like Eglin Field in Edgewood Arsenal, constant testing and development of new spectacular missiles, like these phosphorus bombs.
02:02Written by a captain and two others who commanded artillery and mortar units at Fallujah, it admits...
02:07White phosphorus proved to be an effective and versatile munition.
02:11We used it for screening missions at two breaches and, later in the fight, as a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents.
02:26It's a matter of grave embarrassment for the United States that having vehemently denied that white phosphorus was used in Fallujah,
02:33it now finds itself forced to admit that this particularly unpleasant munition was actually used in the course of these operations.
02:53Having denied it was using white phosphorus here, Israel has now acknowledged it was.
02:58Four shells exploded above a UN-run school-cum-refugee sanctuary.
03:03It says the same weapon was used in the attack on Gaza's UNHQ.
03:16I was sitting with my family when suddenly I saw a ball of fire come down from the sky and white smoke came out.
03:23As soon as I saw it, my eyes burned.
03:26President Assad's tanks and artillery once again unleashing everything it had, including this bright burning substance, possibly white phosphorus.
03:55We witnessed the Russian war against the city of Taftanaz in four breaches.
04:06The first two breaches were from Koudi.
04:09There was fire from the sky.
04:11We don't know if it was white phosphorus or not.
04:14A quarter of an hour later, there was an explosion.
04:16The explosion lasted a quarter of an hour.
04:18There was smoke and fire.
04:25For more UN videos visit www.un.org