IDF used cluster bombs in Lebanon, experts say

Israel used widely banned cluster munitions in its recent 13-month war in Lebanon, photos of munition remnants in south Lebanon seen by the Guardian suggest.

- Exclusive William Christou

The images, which have been examined by six weaponry experts, appear to show the remnants of two types of Israeli cluster munitions found in three locations: south of the Litani River in the forested valleys of Wadi Zibqin, Wadi Barghouz and Wadi Deir Siryan.

The evidence is the first indication that Israel has used cluster munitions since it deployed them in the 2006 Lebanon war. It would be the first time Israel had been found to have used the two new types of cluster munitions found - the 155mm M999 Barak Eitan and 227mm Ra'am Eitan guided missiles.

Cluster munitions are container bombs that release many smaller submunitions, small "bomblets", over an area the size of several football fields. The use of cluster munitions is widely banned as up to 40% of the submunitions do not explode on impact, posing a danger to civilians who may later stumble upon them and be killed.

To date, 124 states have joined the convention on cluster munitions, which forbids their use, production and transfer. Israel is not a party to the convention and is not bound by it.

"We believe the use of cluster munitions is always in conflict with a military's duty to respect international humanitarian law because of their indiscriminate nature at time of use and afterwards," said Tamar Gabelnick, the director of the Cluster Munition Coalition. "Their wide area impact means they cannot distinguish between military and civilian targets and the cluster munition remnants kill and maim civilians for decades after use." The Israeli military neither confirmed nor denied its use of cluster munitions but said it "uses only lawful weapons, in accordance with international law and while mitigating harm to civilians".