Photos showing remnants of cluster munitions in southern Lebanon provide what appears to be the first visual evidence that Israel employed such weapons in its 13-month war with Hezbollah. The images, examined by six independent arms-experts, were found in several valleys south of the Litani River—including Wadi Zibqin, Wadi Barghouz and Wadi Deir Siryan—and reveal shells marked with Hebrew writing, metal tubes with characteristics matching two Israeli cluster-munition types.

One of the items was identified as a 155 mm “M999 Barak Eitan” artillery shell, containing nine submunitions, while others were traced to a 227 mm “Ra’am Eitan” guided missile, each carrying dozens of bomblets. Both weapons are manufactured by Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems—and in each case, the experts found key identifiers including lot codes and yellow-diamond hazard markings.

Cluster munitions are widely condemned because up to 40 percent of submunitions fail to detonate on impact, leaving long-term danger for civilians in conflict zones. While the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) bans their use, 124 states are parties—but Israel has not signed the treaty and is therefore not legally bound by it. Nevertheless, The Guardian reports that arms-inspectors say the use of such weapons by any country poses “a conflict with a military’s duty to respect international humanitarian law,” regardless of formal treaty membership.

The Lebanese government has not made an official announcement claiming that Israel deployed these particular weapons, and the Israeli military has not confirmed the use of cluster munitions. A spokesperson stated simply that Israel uses “only lawful weapons in accordance with international law and with mitigation for civilian harm.” The absence of an admission complicates enforcement and verification but does not diminish the fact that the visual evidence has raised fresh alarm.

This conflict, which began in October 2023 and has cost thousands of lives and displaced vast populations in Lebanon’s south, has already left behind destroyed infrastructure and hazardous unexploded ordnance from previous wars. Lebanon retains traumatic memories of the 2006 conflict, when the Israeli military deployed approximately four million cluster bomblets in the final days of battle—an operation that left an estimated one million unexploded devices and has killed over 400 civilians in the decades since.

Experts say the new findings in south Lebanon reflect the evolving nature of munitions in the region: newer models like the Ra’am Eitan were developed in response to earlier humanitarian backlash and allegedly carry very low “dud rates” in manufacturer literature (some as low as 0.01 percent). Yet experts caution that these claims are often significantly under-estimated in real battle conditions.

For Lebanon it means a return to the dangerous legacy of unexploded ordnance. The valleys where the fragments were found are rural and forested, creating ideal conditions for bomber attacks but also for hiding unexploded submunitions. Civil-society groups warn that any use of cluster munitions, especially close to civilian areas, threatens both current and future lives.

Internationally the issue touches multiple dimensions. For states and organisations monitoring arms control, the alleged use of cluster munitions by a non-party to the CCM reignites scrutiny over enforcement gaps. Diplomatically, it places Israel under fresh criticism just as it continues to pursue normalization deals and major defence exports. For humanitarian agencies, the new incident marks an urgent call for clearance operations and victim support in Lebanon’s war-torn south.

With the arrival of winter rains and shifting front-lines, risk levels may increase. Analysts suggest that older unexploded submunitions become more unstable when soil and vegetation change—a trigger for further casualties long after active combat ends.

The images of the remnants were sourced by The Guardian and reviewed by experts including Brian Castner of Amnesty International and NR Jenzen-Jones of Armament Research Services. Their findings underscore the gravity of the claim while highlighting the challenge of accountability when weapons are deployed in areas beyond transparent oversight.

As the Lebanese south faces yet another humanitarian threat layered onto the devastation of war, the global community will closely watch how the findings are treated. The extent of civilian impact, official investigations and any diplomatic repercussions will shape not only Lebanon’s post-conflict recovery but also the broader future of humanitarian arms regulation.