AP reports that the Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report that Russia and the Syrian regime army have conducted daily cluster bomb attacks in recent weeks.
According to HRW, at least 37 civilians have been killed by cluster bombs in Syria since early January, with dozens more wounded.
Cluster weapons are known for indiscriminate, and often civilian-heavy, damage. With many hospitals and medical facilities in Syria closed or operating at minimal capacity, civilians are often not able to obtain immediate care. Civilians also die from improper care for the wounds, days after the initial attack.
HRW also released a statement in December calling for UN-intervention to stop Russia and the Syrian regime from using cluster weapons on civilians, stating that the attacks could not be conducted by opposition forces because they did not possess aircraft.
On November 9, the Syrian regime issued a statement that they did not and would not use cluster weapons. The HRW refutes this statement.
“Syria’s promises on indiscriminate weapons ring hollow when cluster munitions keep hitting civilians in many parts of the country,” said Ole Solvang, deputy emergencies director at Human Rights Watch.
