Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon (Human Rights Council)

With respect to the use of cluster munitions by the Israeli Defence Forces, the 2006 International Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon stated as follows:

None of the weapons known to have been used by IDF are illegal per se under international humanitarian law. However, the way in which the weapons were used in some cases transgresses the law. The Commission addressed more specifically the use of cluster munitions, 90 per cent of which were fired by IDF during the last 72 hours of the conflict. The Commission finds that their use was excessive and not justified by any reason of military necessity. The Commission finds that these weapons were used deliberately to turn large areas of fertile agricultural land into 'no go' areas for the civilian population. Furthermore, in view of the foreseeable high dud rate, their use amounted to a de facto scattering of anti-personnel mines across wide tracts of Lebanese land. The presence of unexploded ordnance continues to act as a major impediment to the return of IDPs and refugees, as well as threatening the lives and livelihoods of those who have chosen to return.UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Lebanon Pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution S-2/1, 23 November 2006, UN doc. A/HRC/3/2, §24.

Last updated on: 11 June 2014