What Are Cluster Bombs And Why Are They Among The Most Controversial Weapons In The World?
Why are cluster bombs so controversial? Learn how they work, where they've been used, and why the UN and many countries are pushing for a global ban on these deadly weapons.
They're cheap, effective, and devastating. But they're also unpredictable, long-lasting, and lethal to civilians, especially children. Cluster bombs, a class of explosive weapons designed for widespread impact, are among the most controversial weapons. While most modern militaries have access to increasingly precise weapons, cluster munitions still turn up on battlefields — from Vietnam and Kosovo to Syria and Ukraine, and now in the Israel-Iran war, apparently.
But what makes these weapons uniquely controversial, and why is the international community so deeply divided over their use?
What Exactly Are Cluster Bombs And How Do They Work?
A cluster bomb is not a single explosive, but a delivery system. Typically dropped from aircraft or launched via artillery, a cluster munition opens mid-air to release a cargo of dozens, sometimes hundreds, of submunitions, also called "bomblets".
These bomblets spread out over a wide radius, designed to hit multiple soft targets like troops, vehicles, runways, or air defence systems. Depending on the type, a single cluster bomb can cover areas as large as a football field. These submunitions are typically designed to pierce armour, kill personnel, or both.
But here's the problem: not all of these bomblets explode on impact. In fact, anywhere from 5% to 40% of them can fail to detonate, depending on design, age, and terrain. These duds become unexploded ordnance (UXO), functioning like mini landmines that remain deadly for years, or even decades.
Why Are Cluster Bombs More Controversial Than Other Weapons?
Unlike guided missiles or smart bombs, which can be directed at a specific military target with high precision, cluster bombs are inherently indiscriminate.
Here's why they're especially problematic:
Impossible To Predict Impact: A single cluster bomb can disperse bomblets across hundreds of square metres, making it nearly impossible to guarantee civilian safety, especially in populated areas.
Long-Term Danger: Unexploded bomblets don't just disappear. They remain hidden in farmland, forests, villages, and schoolyards. They can explode under a child's foot, a farmer's plough, or a construction crew's equipment, even years after the conflict has ended.
Impact On Civilians: According to the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, over 90% of recorded cluster bomb casualties are civilians, and many of them are children. The bomblets' small size and sometimes toy-like appearance make them dangerously attractive to curious young hands.
Post-Conflict Recovery Hindered: UXOs from cluster munitions delay rebuilding efforts, make large swathes of land unusable, and burden local economies. Entire communities have been forced to relocate due to lingering threats.
Cluster Bombs
In Laos, more than 80 million bomblets were dropped during the Vietnam War era. To this day, farmers and children continue to die from unexploded ordnance.
In Lebanon (2006), Israel launched an estimated 4 million bomblets during its war with Hezbollah. UN investigators found that up to 40% failed to explode, turning southern Lebanon into a deadly minefield.
In Syria and Ukraine, cluster bombs have been used in urban areas, where the potential for civilian harm is especially high. Videos and satellite imagery have documented their devastating impact on homes, schools, and hospitals.
Now, Israel has allegedly fired cluster bombs towards Iran.
The UN's Firm Stance
The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the use of cluster munitions, urging all countries to adopt the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), a 2008 treaty that bans the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs.
To date, 123 nations have joined the convention as members or signatories.
However, key military powers like the United States, Russia, China, and Israel have not signed the treaty, citing military necessity and the need for effective area-denial weapons. The US has argued that cluster munitions, when used responsibly and with newer safety features like self-destruct mechanisms, can still be legal under the laws of armed conflict.
This divide has deepened in recent years, especially after the US decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs to help defend against Russian advances, raising fresh concerns over the long-term humanitarian cost.
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