WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department informed Congress Monday that Israel may have violated arms agreements in its use of cluster bombs in Lebanon.
U.S.-built cluster bombs are anti-personnel weapons that explode after impact, flinging multi small bomblets, grenades or mines out of a central dispenser. They were identified at some of the 300 locations in southern Lebanon hit by bombs in last summer's war with Hezbollah, the United Nations said last year. The State Department announced in August that it would investigate the charges.
According to State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, the United States negotiated an end-use agreement with Israel when it sold the cluster bombs restricting the kinds of targets they could be used against.
"It was the determination based on the facts that we in the preliminary finding -- I have to emphasize 'preliminary,' it's not a final judgment -- that there may likely could have been some violations of that agreement," McCormack said.
He would not discuss details of the agreement as they get into classified "rules of engagement."
"We, of course, will follow the facts scrupulously with respect to the law, and we are forthright and scrupulous in forwarding to the Congress the information that is required by the law, and we will continue to do so, regardless of the case," he said.
The Senate last year defeated an attempt to require countries using U.S.-built cluster bombs to avoid using them in or near civilian areas.
In addition to the immediate blast, cluster bombs pose a long-term danger to civlians. They are estimated to have a 5 percent dud rate, meaning dozens or even hundreds of bomblets can land without exploding but can detonate if disturbed.
McCormack said the United States has contributed at least $9 million to international efforts to clean up the unexploded ordnance in Lebanon.
