When It Rains, It Pours (Bombs)

The season's first hailstorm Tuesday triggered blasts from unexploded cluster bombsin southern Lebanon.

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.

The AP calls the series of explosions a "blessing in disguise," clearing some areas of ordnance -- without injuring anyone.

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. *[This newsletter shows the bomblets tucked into tomato tents, scattered around olive orchards, and stuck in trees. - ed.]

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.

(High five: Kris)