Numerous reports claim that Russia has dropped deadly white phosphorus on civilians in northwest Syria, as its intensive bombing campaign against ISIS continues. The chemical weapon is banned under the Geneva Convention, because it is highly toxic and can burn through flesh and bone. Shocking
images posted to Twitter show the sky allegedly filled with the
potentially deadly weapon, as it rains down on the de-facto capital of
ISIS, Raqqa.
White
phosphorus, an incendiary also known as WP, is used by armies to
illuminate targets during the night or as a smokescreen during the day.
But
while Raqqa may be an ISIS stronghold, activists on the ground claim
that civilians were caught up in airstrike, which was described as a
‘war crime’.
Human rights organisations have claimed that Russian airstrikes have killed more civilians than ISIS fighters.
‘To
protect the devil (Syrian President) Assad, #Russianairstrikes using
phosphorous bombs on #Raqqa #warcrimes,’ wrote a Muslim Iraqi Twitter
user who ‘helps innocent civilians’.
Although
the photographs haven’t been verified, citizen journalists from the
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently network alleged ‘that airstrikes
targeted Raqqa today with phosphorus’.
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