Hailstones Trigger Unexploded Bomblets In Lebanon
There are an estimated 1 million unexploded cluster bombs on the ground in Lebanon. Another reason we don’t ever want to see war on our own soil.
BEIRUT — The season’s first hailstorm Tuesday was a blessing in disguise for cluster bomb-infested parts of southern Lebanon, triggering blasts from previously unexploded bomblets. No injuries were reported.
After a long dry spell across Lebanon, hailstones as big as walnuts hit villages and struck undiscovered bomblets scattered across the landscape, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Dalya Farran, a spokeswoman for the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center (MACC), confirmed that many cluster bombs exploded when they were hit by hailstones in villages near the town of Marjayoun.
More than 30 people have been killed by cluster bombs in southern Lebanon since last year’s war between Hezbollah and Israel.
The United Nations and human rights groups accuse Israel of dropping about 4 million cluster bomblets during the war. Up to 1 million failed to explode and now endanger civilians in the area.
Cluster bombs look like huge canisters. When dropped, they open in flight and eject dozens or hundreds of small bomblets, often across a wide area. Some fail to explode on impact and detonate later when moved.
(Newsvine)
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Man, I’d like to have watched that hailstorm!
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:12 amsigh
would you say that the UNIFIL is worth nothing there ?
one french soldier got killed while he was trying to disbait one of these bomblets
November 22nd, 2007 at 3:52 amWho named the picture?
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:33 am