The Israeli army used white phosphorus munitions in southern Lebanon, said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Tuesday.
Lacroix made the statements at the UN headquarters in New York, noting that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has launched an investigation into the matter.
"I believe there has been use of white phosphorus [munitions]. Then again, our position is that it should not be used in conditions where the civilian population is potentially affected by that. Now, in terms of the specifics, the conditions in which those cases occur, the UNFIL has conducted investigations. I don't have the elements of these investigations which are ongoing," he said.
White phosphorus munitions are offensive incendiary weapons that produce high temperatures and toxic smoke when burning. As a weapon, they are strictly regulated by international law.
In 1980, the United Nations adopted the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects, and the protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of incendiary weapons annexed to the convention prohibits the use of incendiary weapons against civilians and civilian gatherings.
The Israeli army argued that it only used white phosphorus munitions as flares or to provide cover using the smoke they produced, and was therefore not subject to this restriction. Lacroix also said that UNIFIL is discussing with all parties on expanding the force's capacity building after the end of this round of conflict, with a focus on enhancing its ability to remove remaining explosive devices.
"I believe that the post hostilities environment in southern Lebanon would be characterized by a very significant presence of improvised explosive devices, remnants of war mines, and we are already working with some contributing countries to expand UNIFIL's capacity in that area," Lacroix said.
UN peacekeeping chief confirms Israel's use of phosphorus munitions in Lebanon
Hengdian World Studios, a film and TV theme park in Hengdian of east China's Zhejiang Province, is enjoying surging popularity among international tourists thanks to the booming Chinese film industry.
Dubbed "China's Hollywood", Hengdian is one of the largest real-life film and television shooting bases in the world, and is the filming location for popular films such as war blockbuster "The Battle at Lake Changjin."
To further boost cultural and tourism industries, Hengdian has also introduced immersive experience programs such as being movie extras and performances by movie professionals.
Wearing ancient Chinese costumes and holding related props, Dabira Vianny, a student from Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, has fully enjoyed his character in a swordsman-themed movie scene at the experience zone of movie extras with his friend.
"I like Chinese movies very much. We've watched Chinese Kung Fu movies and historical movies, and movies starring Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Bruce Lee," said Vianny.
Vianny and his African friend planned a travel route to filming locations for themselves, and visited Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Jinhua to experience Chinese landscapes and historical culture during the trip. They also shared what they saw and heard during the trip with their family and friends through photos and videos.
"They in our home country can see what China is like. If they have the chance, they can come to tour China," he said.
With China's further relaxation and optimization of the transit visa-free policy and growing interest in Chinese films, the number of foreign tourists to the Hengdian World Studios in 2024 increased nearly 10 times year on year, according to related officials.
"As Hengdian has had all the historical scenes of the past 5,000 years in China miniatured, you can see all of the past 5,000 years in just three days in one city. As a demo social media spot for traveling to China, it provides a very concise and effective way for these tourists to plan their in-depth China tours next time," said Guo Shu, head of the international business department of Hengdian World Studios.
Hengdian World Studios enjoys surging popularity in China tourism
