Latest news with #ConventiononClusterMunitions
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Israel accuses Iran of firing cluster bomb
Amid the ongoing conflict, Israel has accused Iran of using a cluster bomb. According to Israel, this is the first time Iran has used cluster munition in the week-long conflict. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli embassy in Washington have condemned the move, warning that the use of cluster bombs—a weapon widely criticized for harming civilians—poses a serious threat to populated areas and violates humanitarian norms. On Thursday, the Israeli military and its embassy in Washington confirmed that Iran fired a missile containing cluster submunitions into central Israel. 'Today, the Iranian Armed Forces fired a missile that contained cluster submunitions at a densely populated civilian area in Israel,' the embassy said in a statement via email to Reuters. According to an AP report, Israel's Home Front Command asserted that one of the Iranian ballistic missiles fired Thursday morning had been 'rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions'. Rather than a conventional warhead, a cluster munition warhead carries dozens of submunitions that can explode on impact, showering small bomblets around a large area and posing major safety risks on the ground, the AP report further said. While the Israeli military did not say where that missile had been fired, reports suggest the warhead exploded at approximately seven kilometres above ground, scattering about 20 submunitions over an eight-kilometre radius. One of the submunitions from the attack struck a home in the central Israeli town of Azor, causing material damage, according to The Times of Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties. In response, the Israeli Home Front Command issued a safety advisory via X (formerly Twitter), urging the public to exercise extreme caution. 'This morning we experienced a missile strike capable of dispersing small munitions over a relatively wide area. It is possible that some of the munitions will remain on the ground and not explode. Do not touch any fallen objects or suspicious objects. Immediately call 100,' the advisory warned. The email statement of the embassy added, 'Cluster weapons are designed to disperse over a large area and maximize the chances of a harmful strike. Iran unlawfully fired deliberately at civilian population centers, and seeks to maximise the damage to civilians in them by using wide-dispersal munitions.' Cluster bombs differ from traditional ballistic missiles in that they release multiple smaller explosives—known as submunitions—over a large area rather than delivering one focused blast. A senior Israeli military official told The Times of Israel that while each individual submunition may be less powerful, their collective reach makes them significantly more dangerous in populated regions. Because many submunitions fail to detonate on impact, they often remain active on the ground, posing a long-term threat to civilians who may accidentally trigger them. The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use, stockpiling, and production of such weapons, has been signed by 111 countries and 12 other entities. However, major military powers—including Iran, Israel, the United States, and Russia—have refused to join the treaty. In 2023, the US supplied cluster munitions to Ukraine for use against Russian forces. Ukraine has accused Russia of deploying similar weapons in the ongoing war. Like Iran and Israel, neither country is a signatory to the convention.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran is using cluster bombs against Israel: What are these bombs and why are they banned in war?
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Israel on Thursday accused Iran of launching at least one missile carrying cluster munitions , marking the first reported use of such weapons in the seven-day-old conflict. According to Israeli officials, the missile dispersed submunitions designed to increase civilian casualties, raising serious humanitarian concerns Cluster bombs, a type of cluster munition, are designed to release numerous smaller explosives—known as submunitions—over a wide area. These weapons can be dropped from aircraft or launched from the ground. Once deployed, the main shell opens mid-air and scatters submunitions across an area equivalent to several football of the most controversial aspects of cluster munitions is their long-term danger. Some submunitions fail to explode on impact and remain lethal for years, posing significant risks to civilians and hindering post-conflict recovery. Removing unexploded ordnance is both costly and in March, Russia used cluster bombs in an attack on Ukraine's eastern region of Dobropillia. The strike targeted the town center, killing 11 people and injuring 40 others. The incident drew international condemnation and renewed scrutiny over the use of such weapons in civilian munitions have a long and contentious history. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross , they were first used during World War II and saw significant stockpiling during the Cold War. Their primary military objective has been to neutralize multiple targets—such as tanks or infantry units—spread over a wide use of cluster munitions in populated areas is banned under international law by more than 120 countries, though key nations including the United States, Russia, and Iran have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
What are cluster bombs, reportedly fired by Iran on Israel
Israel on Thursday claimed that Iran fired at least one missile that scattered small bombs with the aim of increasing civilian casualties. This is the first reported use of cluster munitions in the seven-day-old war. Cluster bombs are part of cluster munitions that consists of a hollow shell that is dropped from the air or fired from the ground. It breaks open in mid-air and releases smaller bombs, or submunitions, that can number in the hundreds and reach areas as wide as several football fields. Cluster munition scatter smaller bombs in large areas, some of which may not explode, posing deadly risks to civilians long after the fighting ends. As some of the cluster bomb may remain unexploded, they can kill or maim civilians and unintended targets long after a conflict has ended, and are costly to locate and remove. According to the International Committee of Red Cross, cluster munitions were first used in World War II and a large amount of stockpiled cluster munitions were designed during the cold war. Their main purpose was to destroy multiple military targets dispersed over a wide area, such as tanks or to kill or injure soldiers. These cluster bombs are not precise in their target and their precision can be affected by weather and other environmental factors. They may therefore hit areas outside the military objective targeted. In 2008, Convention on Cluster Munitions was established to prohibit the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. It also required members to destroy existing stockpiles of cluster munitions. Signed by 123 nations, it came into effect in 2010. However some countries including Russia, Ukraine, and the United States did not sign the convention. Earlier in March, Russia attacked Ukraine's eastern region Dobropillia with cluster bombs that targeted the centre of the town and killed 11 people, wounding 40 others.
The National
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The National
Britain urged to join allies in pulling out of landmine treaty
Britain has been urged to withdraw from the key landmine and cluster bomb treaties to counter the deteriorating global security situation, former defence secretary Ben Wallace has said. With Russia's military might growing and the US disengaging from Nato, Mr Wallace said that unless the treaties were updated, 'we must leave them'. A key driver argued in a paper published by the Policy Exchange think tank was the growing threat of Russia invading Eastern Europe after its aggression against Ukraine. Cluster bombs and landmines are estimated to have caused more than 300,000 Russian casualties, preventing them from taking more territory. Now with several Eastern European countries indicating that they will withdraw from the treaties, this could create a 'domino effect' across the continent, the paper said. But global de-mining charities warned that more people would die as a result of any treaty withdrawal and that the tactical use of anti-personnel mines was outweighed by the civilian harm they caused. With Africa, Afghanistan and South-East Asia particularly affected by decades of landmines being sown during the Cold War, their legacy has caused countless civilian deaths and traumatic injuries. As a result, in 1997 the Ottawa Treaty was agreed to by 133 states, banning the use of anti-personnel mines. Cluster bombs, which are made up of a single device spreading about 100 bomblets over an area of several football pitches, were also banned in 2008 in the Convention on Cluster Munitions. But 'a lot has changed' since then, said Mr Wallace, who was defence secretary during Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He had first-hand experience of how the Ottawa Treaty prevented Britain and other allies supplying Ukraine with important munitions. 'I was beset by lawyers applying old and out of date treaties to new capabilities which are vital to saving life and countering Russian lethality,' he said in a foreword to the paper. The bans had become 'tools for our adversaries to use to their advantage' and unless the treaties were 'updated to reflect modern security imperatives, we must leave them'. That intent has already been indicated by Poland, Finland and the Baltic States stating their desire to withdraw. 'Are we now going to see a domino effect over the next few months against the backdrop of a deteriorating security situation on Europe's eastern flank?' the Policy Exchange paper asked. But given the global insecurity, the British government should urgently consider joining them to lead a more co-ordinated change that would act as a significant deterrent to Russia, it said. More pressingly, with America now disengaging with Europe and Russia's military power base expanding, 'decisive action' was needed to increase stockpiles of the 'critical weapons'. Cluster bombs and landmines, which can remain in place for years after the fighting has finished, are highly effective defensive weapons to deter invasion and wear down an invading force, as demonstrated by Ukraine. With divergence in the Nato alliance coming to a head under US President Donald Trump and the security of US military might no longer guaranteed, Europe could be fatally undermined in its ability to defend itself. Modern warfare had also demonstrated the ease with which mines could be planted, with drones or missiles able to bury them behind enemy formations to hamper a retreat. This had allowed Ukraine 'to cede ground slowly while exacting a disproportionate cost to the attacker'. Therefore, in any future war with Russia the arms would be 'crucial weapons', especially with cluster munitions able to the job of several artillery shells or rockets, the paper said. Cluster bombs could halt a fast-moving Russian offensive with their ability to 'saturate and destroy' concentrated armoured forces. The current agreements restricted Europe's defences therefore the British government should 'urgently lay the legal framework to withdraw from both treaties' that will help them 'actually fight and win a war with Russia", the paper concluded. The Mine Action Group, a de-mining organisation, told The National that experience showed the 'tactical utility of anti-personnel mines is outweighed by the civilian harm they cause', something it witnesses daily. 'We recognise that there are no easy choices for states that feel under threat of armed aggression, but international humanitarian law is designed precisely for times like these, when people are in the gravest danger and the risk of conflict is at its highest,' a spokesman said. The Halo Trust, which has removed millions of mines around the world, said it understood 'the deadly nature of landmines better than most' and the treaty had been 'instrumental in saving millions of people's lives'. But it also recognised that the invasion of Ukraine 'has created a new reality for the defence of Eastern Europe'.
Saba Yemen
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Lithuania officially withdraws from Convention on Cluster Munitions Prohibition
Linus - Saba: Lithuania officially withdrew today, Thursday, from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Production, Use and Stockpiling of Cluster Munitions. The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that "Lithuania's withdrawal from the Convention on Cluster Munitions has become legally effective." The Lithuanian Parliament, the "Seim," voted in July 2024 to end Vilnius' participation in this convention. In the fall of the same year, Lithuania notified the United Nations of its decision to end its membership in the convention. Since then, the countdown has begun for the expiration of the six-month period until the decision enters into force, and this officially happened today, March 6. Lithuania is also considering the possibility of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. Officials in Vilnius believe that this withdrawal could be carried out collectively by all countries on NATO's eastern flank, or jointly by alliance members that share borders with Russia and Belarus. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
