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The use of phosphorus bombs to attack civilian settlements of Artsakh by the Azerbaijani military is threatening an environmental disaster, the Artsakh Defense Army said in a statement on Saturday.

“The Azerbaijani forces used phosphorus munitions containing elements of chemical weapons in the Artsakh-Azerbaijani conflict zone, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, norms and principles of customary law, Geneva conventions, as well as the provisions of the relevant UN conventions and documents. Apart from the intent to inflict damage on the Armenian forces, the enemy also aims to cause massive forest fires and create real environmental disaster hazards in the area,” the military said.

“The prohibition of such actions and the protection of concomitant rights and values rest primarily in the realm of customary law, whereas the use of such weapons, which do not distinguish between military and civilian targets, in the meantime causing an environmental disaster and possible human losses, constitute war crimes,” the statement said.