Report: Hizbullah used cluster bombs in Lebanon war
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Hizbullah fired cluster munitions into Israeli civilian populated areas during the recent war in Lebanon, Human Rights Watch reported on Thursday.
The human rights organization, which heavily criticized IDF action during the war, released a statement confirming that the terrorist organization fired 'Chinese-made type-81 122mm' rockets "into civilian areas in northern Israel."
The report said Hizbullah's use of this specific type of weapon was the first confirmation of its use "anywhere in the world."
"We are disturbed to discover that not only Israel but also Hizbullah used cluster munitions in their recent conflict, at a time when many countries are turning away from this kind of weapon precisely because of its impact on civilians," said Steve Goose, director of Human Rights Watch's Arms Division.
The use of cluster bomb on civilian populations is prohibited by international law. The destruction caused by these bombs is amplified because of both their large range and the duds that are left over after the initial blast.The area of contact is increased due to submunitions that are dispersed when the rocket hits the ground. Subsequently, a large number of unexploded bombs left over are still active after they fall."Each submunition in turn shoots out hundreds of steel spheres, about 3.5mm in diameter, with deadly force," said Human Rights Watch.
The group discovered Hizbullah's "unprecedented" use of cluster munitions during ongoing investigations of the actions of both Hizbullah and Israel following the conflict.Human Rights Watch said that police had withheld publication of Hizbullah's use of cluster bombs due to "security concerns."
Police had documented 113 cluster rockets that were fired at Israel during the war, which landed in Karmiel, Kiryat Motzkin, Nahariya, Safsufa and the Arab village of Mghar.
A total of 113 Type-81 cluster munitions rockets would contain 4,407 individual sub munitions.
Hizbullah fired cluster munitions into Israeli civilian populated areas during the recent war in Lebanon, Human Rights Watch reported on Thursday.
The human rights organization, which heavily criticized IDF action during the war, released a statement confirming that the terrorist organization fired 'Chinese-made type-81 122mm' rockets "into civilian areas in northern Israel."
The report said Hizbullah's use of this specific type of weapon was the first confirmation of its use "anywhere in the world."
"We are disturbed to discover that not only Israel but also Hizbullah used cluster munitions in their recent conflict, at a time when many countries are turning away from this kind of weapon precisely because of its impact on civilians," said Steve Goose, director of Human Rights Watch's Arms Division.
The use of cluster bomb on civilian populations is prohibited by international law. The destruction caused by these bombs is amplified because of both their large range and the duds that are left over after the initial blast.The area of contact is increased due to submunitions that are dispersed when the rocket hits the ground. Subsequently, a large number of unexploded bombs left over are still active after they fall."Each submunition in turn shoots out hundreds of steel spheres, about 3.5mm in diameter, with deadly force," said Human Rights Watch.
The group discovered Hizbullah's "unprecedented" use of cluster munitions during ongoing investigations of the actions of both Hizbullah and Israel following the conflict.Human Rights Watch said that police had withheld publication of Hizbullah's use of cluster bombs due to "security concerns."
Police had documented 113 cluster rockets that were fired at Israel during the war, which landed in Karmiel, Kiryat Motzkin, Nahariya, Safsufa and the Arab village of Mghar.
A total of 113 Type-81 cluster munitions rockets would contain 4,407 individual sub munitions.
posted by Sara @ 12:42 PM
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