Mid East Daily

Israel is reportedly using artillery-fired cluster munitions in the civilian area of Lebanon. Researchers of Human Rights Watch have confirmed that a cluster munitions attack was carried out on the village Blida killing 19 civilians. Cluster munitions should not be used in a populated area, as it is quite lethal. Further, the researchers have also taken photographs of the cluster munitions in the armory of Israeli artillery on the Israel-Lebanon conflict.



Pallets of 155mm artillery projectiles







The M483A1 artillery shells deliver at least 88 cluster sub-munitions per shell and that makes it more lethal and truly devastating in a populated area. Further, these cluster munitions have a mind-blowing failure rate of 14 percent that leaves many cluster sub-munitions unexploded. Therefore, these cluster munitions are taking lives if they explode and turning the region into a dangerous minefields if remain unexploded.



As reported by HRW, the Israeli army had fired several cluster munitions at Blida village on 19 July and it has been confirmed with the eyewitnesses and survivors.



On the other hand, Lebanese army, which as of now not engaged in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, also alleged that that Israel is using cluster munitions in its offensive on villages at the boarder of Lebanon.



Close-up of a M483A1 DPICM artillery-delivered cluster munition:







This is yet to be ascertain, that the use of cluster munitions in populated area whether violate the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks as per international humanitarian law. If the Israeli army continues to use this lethal ammunition there will be massive civilian casualty.



However, the most threatening aspect of this trend is its high failure rate since it would leave huge numbers of unexploded death-defying explosives buried in the soils of Lebanon. These Israeli created mines field will keep killing people even after war is over.



Israel had used cluster munitions even before against Lebanon in 1978 and 1980s and those munitions still affecting Lebanon. However, on earlier occasion, U.S. had placed restrictions on the use and transfer of cluster munitions. However, this time around one cannot think of U.S. repeating the same policy.



In the meanwhile, Israel has denied the allegations that its army is using cluster ammunitions in Lebanon.



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