UNIFIL denies Lebanese report claiming Israel used cluster bombs in recent attack
'Daily Star' reported UNIFIL investigators found that Israel fired two dozen cluster bombs at hills surrounding Kfar Shuba and the Shebaa Farms on Tuesday.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUNIFIL soldiers inspect remains of a shell launched from Lebanon into Israel(photo credit: REUTERS)
The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon is denying a media report claiming that its investigators found that Israel used cluster bombs against targets there earlier this week in retaliation for a bomb detonated by Hezbollah which injured two IDF soldiers.According to the English-language Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star, UNIFIL investigators found that Israel fired two dozen cluster bombs at hills surrounding Kfar Shuba and the Shebaa Farms on Tuesday. The UN force, however, denied reaching such a conclusion.The Daily Star quoted unnamed investigators from UNIFIL and the Lebanese military who were carrying out inspections along the border region shortly after the incident on Tuesday.There were no injuries reported as a result of the Israeli retaliation, according to reports.Israel's use of cluster bombs in past rounds of fighting has been the subject of controversy, particularly due to the civilian casualties caused by the munitions.Although cluster bombs have been banned by 109 countries, Israel made extensive use of them during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. International rights organizations criticized the IDF's use of cluster bombs, prompting Israeli authorities to pledge that it would place greater restrictions on their deployment in future conflicts.
