Israel May Have Violated Submunition Agreements

Reportedly, State Department officials plan to notify Congress that Israel may have violated Arms Export Control Act agreements established with the United States when it used submunitions against Hezbollah targets last summer. Submunitions were deployed in populated towns and villages where Hezbollah rocket launchers were known or suspected to be located.

The Arms Export Control Act prohibits Israel from deploying submunitions against civilian populated areas. Israel claims they were acting in self-defense "to halt Hezbollah's unprovoked rocket attacks against our civilian population centers."

The debate and potential reprimand (if any) is expected spark some interesting discussions on the uses of submunitions during times of war.