Jan 14, 2009 1:05 PM

Israeli 'Cluster Bombing' In Gaza? Unlikely

Critics say that the Israelis are pounding Gaza with cluster bombs. But the evidence suggests otherwise. Last week, there were a number of claims that the Israeli Defense Forces were using artillery-launched cluster rounds in Gaza. The Times of London, for instance, included a photograph in the with the caption: "An artillery round sends out bomblets above Gaza City, which continues to be attacked by Israeli forces." *Think Progress *(which carried the picture to the right) draws the same conclusion about cluster bombs from TV coverage of the assault: "In reviewing the footage starting to come out ...we do see explosions in the air with multiple projectiles."

In some ways this would not be a surprise. In 2006, the IDF used a large number of cluster munitions against Lebanon; one commander estimated that 1,800 cluster warheads containing over 1.2 million bomblets were fired. This left large swathes of the country scattered with dangerous unexploded bombs and attracted widespread criticism. Unusually, even the U.S. State Department issued a reportindicating that Israel had probably violated the terms of arms deals with Washington by using the weapons in civilian areas.

Similar claims have come from various sources in slightly different forms, based on eyewitness descriptions of the incoming rounds: "Eyewitnesses reported that new shells explode before landing on the targets making more small bombs. The shells are expected to be cluster bombs."

Ha'aretz
stated as fact: "The ground invasion was preceded by large-scale artillery shelling from around 4 P.M., intended to "soften" the targets as artillery batteries deployed along the Strip in recent days began bombarding Hamas targets and open areas near the border. Hundreds of shells were fired, including cluster bombs aimed at open areas." [My emphasis]

All of these claims are based on the appearance of the shell bursting, and none of the sources indicate that actual cluster bomblets have been found. This looks like a case of mistaken identity the picture above showing "multiple projectiles" is actually a white phosphorus round or similar, used to create a smokescreen. Of course WP
is also very controversial -- see my next post for more on this.

Compare it with the picture at right of a WP bomb, used by the U.S.
Navy back in 1921. You'll see exactly the same type of "projectiles"
released from the explosion, each leaving a characteristic trail of white smoke. Real bomblets, on the other hand, don't leave a smoking trail (see sample image here).

Others seem to have spotted this too; the *Times *picture is now captioned: "Israeli artillery shells explode with a chemical agent designed to create smokescreen for ground forces." Think Progress also acknowledges that its picture is also WP.

Dropping cluster bombs before the ground assault is likely to cause casualties among your own footsoldiers. It's worth noting that the majority of cluster munitions were used in Lebanon during the final days of the action there, as the Israelis were retreating. If cluster munitions do get used in Gaza, it's much more likely to happen while the IDF is covering its exit.

So far, any claims about cluster bomb use remain unsubstantiated. But as as Mark Twain observed, a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes, so it's likely that the "cluster bombs in Gaza"
story will become part of the folklore of the conflict.

[Photos: via Think Progress; U.S. Navy]

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